Mark Latham

Mark Latham
Born	(1961-02-28) February 28, 1961 Ashcroft, Sydney, Australia
Occupation(s)	Politician, media analyst
Years active	1987–present
Known for	Leader of the Australian Labor Party (2003–2005); Member of New South Wales Legislative Council

Mark William Latham (; born 28 February 1961) is an Australian political figure and media analyst, presently serving in the New South Wales Legislative Council. He was the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and held the position of opposition leader from December 2003 until January 2005, during which time the party was defeated in the 2004 Australian federal election. After departing from the ALP in 2017, Latham affiliated with Pauline Hanson's One Nation in 2018, securing a seat in the NSW Legislative Council at the 2019 New South Wales state election and successfully retaining it in 2023.

Originating from Sydney, Latham pursued economics at the University of Sydney and joined Labor early in his career, serving as a research assistant to both Gough Whitlam and Bob Carr. He was elected to Liverpool City Council in 1987 and became mayor by 1991. His entry into federal politics came through winning the seat of Werriwa in a 1994 by-election. After being appointed to Labor’s shadow cabinet following the 1996 election, he stepped down from the frontbench in 1998 due to a disagreement with leader Kim Beazley, but returned under Simon Crean’s leadership in 2001.

In December 2003, following Crean’s resignation, Latham narrowly surpassed Beazley to become Labor leader, marking him as the party’s youngest leader since 1901. The 2004 federal election resulted in Labor losing five seats and a decline in its two-party-preferred vote share, enabling the Howard government to secure a fourth term. Disenchanted, Latham exited politics in January 2005. His memoir, The Latham Diaries, offered sharp criticism of political practices and former colleagues.

After stepping away from politics, Latham gained prominence as a commentator noted for provocative statements and critiques of Labor and left-wing ideologies. He co-hosted Outsiders on Sky News Live from December 2016 until his dismissal in March 2017 following offensive remarks. In May 2017, he joined the Liberal Democrats, departing by November to lead One Nation’s NSW branch. Winning a Legislative Council seat with One Nation in 2019, he resigned mid-term in March 2023 to run for re-election later that month.

In August 2023, One Nation’s federal leader Pauline Hanson removed Latham from his role as NSW party leader. He then left One Nation to serve as an independent.

Early career

Born on 28 February 1961 in Ashcroft, a suburb located southwest of Sydney, Latham attended Hurlstone Public School and later the Hurlstone Agricultural High School, where he graduated as dux. He earned a Bachelor of Economics with Honours from the University of Sydney in 1982. During his studies, he worked for two years at the Green Valley Hotel and served as an adviser to Labor politician John Kerin between 1980 and 1982. Following graduation, Latham acted as research assistant to former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam from 1982 until 1987, assisting with Whitlam’s book The Whitlam Government, then provided advisory support to NSW Opposition Leader Bob Carr from 1988 through 1991.

In 1987, Latham was elected to Sydney’s south-western Liverpool City Council, becoming mayor between 1991 and 1994. He played rugby union for the Liverpool Bulls club—where he also held the presidency—and has been an avid supporter of the St George Dragons rugby league team.

During his mayoral tenure, Latham introduced notable initiatives such as boosting public infrastructure expenditure through loans alongside cost savings achieved by outsourcing council services. Journalist Margaret Simons later observed financial management challenges primarily linked to outsourcing contracts, with much criticism originating from council members who were subsequently dismissed by state authorities.

On 1 June 2004, Latham told Parliament that while serving as mayor he had lowered Liverpool's debt service ratio from 17% down to 10%, which was below the average for western Sydney councils. He asserted that Liverpool had adopted a debt repayment plan intended to eliminate its liabilities by 2005; however, this strategy was not continued by those who followed him in office.

Labor Member of Parliament

In a January 1994 by-election, Latham secured a seat in the Australian House of Representatives representing the Sydney electorate of Werriwa, a position once held by Gough Whitlam from 1952 until 1978. After Labor's loss in the 1996 federal election, he was appointed to the Opposition front bench as shadow minister for education. However, following the 1998 election, he stepped down from the front bench due to a policy disagreement with opposition leader Kim Beazley, initiating a prolonged rivalry between them.

His perspectives in Civilising Global Capital set him apart from traditional Labor figures, yet his forceful approach in Parliament earned him respect among some peers. He was particularly outspoken against Prime Minister John Howard and the Liberal frontbench, using pointed language and labeling U.S. President George W. Bush as "the most incompetent and dangerous president in living memory."

In 2002, Latham openly articulated his strong political animosity:

I'm a hater... I hate their negativity. I hate their narrowness... I hate the phoniness of that.

Leader of the Opposition (2003-2005)

Latham backed Simon Crean, who succeeded Kim Beazley, defending him against internal dissenters known as "the three roosters." When Crean resigned, Latham narrowly defeated Beazley in the December 2003 leadership ballot by 47 votes to 45, becoming at 42 years old the youngest federal Labor leader since Chris Watson in 1901. His leadership centered on promoting a "ladder of opportunity" aimed at fostering economic prosperity.

The Howard government targeted Latham’s forthright manner and economic policies as shadow treasurer, which included proposals to eliminate negative gearing and replace the GST with a Progressive Expenditure Tax. His temperament also came under scrutiny amid claims of an altercation with a taxi driver.

Upon assuming leadership, Latham appointed Crean as shadow treasurer and maintained several Beazley loyalists in key positions; Beazley himself returned to the front bench as Shadow Minister for Defence in July 2004.

At the January 2004 Labor national conference held in Sydney, Latham garnered favorable media attention while advocating for early childhood literacy initiatives and financial relief for the middle class under the campaign theme "ease the squeeze." He also outlined plans for reforming education and healthcare systems and raised his public profile through informal "town hall" meetings across the country. By March, Labor had taken the lead in opinion polls, with Latham’s approval ratings exceeding those of any opposition leader since Bob Hawke in 1983.

Following the March 2004 defeat of Spain’s pro-Bush People's Party, Latham pledged that Labor would withdraw Australian forces from Iraq by Christmas. At that time, approximately 850 Australian troops were deployed primarily in patrol and training capacities. Prime Minister Howard criticized this position as a "cut and run" policy, insisting it was "not the Australian way not to stay the distance."

2004 Federal Election Campaign

Until March 2004, Labor, led by Latham, consistently topped national opinion polls. Although his pledge to withdraw troops from Iraq initially narrowed Labor’s lead, the disclosure of prisoner mistreatment at Abu Ghraib prison subsequently bolstered support for Labor, weakening Howard’s standing.

In June 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush criticized Labor’s "troops home by Christmas" policy as "disastrous."

Latham enlisted Peter Garrett, former frontman of Midnight Oil and president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, as a candidate for the secure Sydney electorate of Kingsford Smith. Garrett had been approached months prior by senior ALP officials.

Additionally, Latham proposed ending lucrative superannuation arrangements for parliamentarians—a policy quickly embraced by the Howard government amid public approval and endorsed by his mentor, ex-PM Gough Whitlam.

Other policy proposals included federally funded parenting programs for families in difficulty; prohibiting food and beverage advertisements during children’s television viewing times; launching a national youth mentoring initiative; providing free storybooks to families with newborns; imposing a nationwide ban on plastic shopping bags; and enacting laws against vilification based on religion or sexual orientation. Critics argued these measures curtailed free speech, prompting Howard to label Latham a "behavioural policeman."

In July 2004, accusations emerged that Latham had punched a political adversary during his time on Liverpool Council, which he denied. He also alleged the government operated a "dirt unit" collecting personal information about him; the government rejected this claim. Rumors circulated that Liberal researchers had gathered damaging material to undermine him during the campaign.

From March to August, Latham’s poll numbers declined amid speculation about an early election call. In August, Labor claimed a strategic victory over the government regarding the Australia – United States Free Trade Agreement, while allegations surfaced that Howard had lied about the "Children Overboard Affair" in the 2001 election campaign. By mid-August, Labor regained the lead in all three national opinion polls.

Despite Labor’s vigorous campaign and Latham’s success in the only televised debate, the 9 October 2004 election resulted in a government win with an increased majority.

Journalists Tom Allard and Mark Metherell criticized Latham for unveiling too many policies, which diverted attention from Labor’s core strengths in health and education. Labor party president Carmen Lawrence attributed the defeat to an effective Coalition "scare campaign" focusing on doubts about Latham’s economic management skills and fears of rising interest rates—concerns that were inadequately addressed due to campaign spending decisions made by Tim Gartrell.

Latham later identified his inability to counter the interest rate scare as a major reason for the loss. He described feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of leading the campaign alone. Michael Costello, former chief of staff to Kim Beazley, warned that Labor would likely require at least two terms before regaining government control.

On 8 October, media widely reported an incident where Latham appeared to shake Howard’s hand aggressively outside an Australian Broadcasting Corporation studio. Some described this as "bullying," and it reportedly generated more feedback to Liberal headquarters than any other event during the campaign. Latham downplayed its significance, explaining it was a normal handshake intended to prevent Howard from grasping his arm instead of his wrist.

Latham became the first Labor opposition leader since Frank Tudor in 1917 not to secure a net seat gain in his initial election. Some analysts, including Kim Beazley, credited his leadership with limiting what could have been a more severe defeat. Beazley noted that polls conducted a year earlier predicted losses of 25–30 seats; instead, Labor lost only four net seats with a 0.21% swing in the House and a 1.1% swing in the Senate.

Leadership disputes

The Labor Party's electoral loss prompted scrutiny of Latham's leadership approach and policy priorities, sparking a crisis of confidence among Labor parliamentarians. Prominent frontbench members such as John Faulkner, Lindsay Tanner, and Bob McMullan chose not to stand for re-election to their positions. McMullan openly challenged Latham's leadership and alluded to a potential challenge in 2005. Additionally, Bill Shorten, national secretary of the Australian Workers' Union, expressed strong criticism.

In December, after erroneous reports suggested Latham blamed Labor's state premiers for the defeat, an anonymous frontbencher forecasted an imminent leadership challenge due to declining support. A public disagreement between Latham and Senate deputy leader Stephen Conroy intensified speculation about his position.

Latham's position was somewhat safeguarded by the lack of a clear alternative leader. Senior figures including Kevin Rudd, Wayne Swan, and Stephen Smith accepted key frontbench roles and declared their allegiance. Leaders from the Socialist Left faction and the centre-left faction under Martin Ferguson and Julia Gillard also supported him. There was minimal enthusiasm for reinstating Beazley, and neither Tanner nor McMullan were regarded as credible challengers. Despite this, many questioned whether Latham could maintain leadership through to the 2007 election following such a significant defeat.

The final leadership turmoil occurred after the December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. With both Latham and deputy leader Jenny Macklin on leave, acting opposition leader Senator Chris Evans made public statements. Latham was criticized for not personally addressing the disaster, particularly as Prime Minister John Howard expressed national condolences, committed $1 billion in loans to Indonesia, and declared a national day of mourning. Latham dismissed these critiques, asserting that his comments would not influence relief efforts. Macklin later released a statement before also taking leave.

By January, opinion polls revealed a steep drop in support for Latham alongside increasing calls for Beazley's return.

Exit from politics

On 18 January 2005, citing serious health issues and family considerations, Latham stepped down as Labor leader and resigned from Parliament. He condemned intrusive media coverage regarding his family's privacy during his illness. His leadership term lasted only 13 months, marking the shortest since Billy Hughes' expulsion in 1916. Latham became only the second federal Labor leader after Matthew Charlton (1928) to leave politics without having held ministerial office.

Political commentator Mungo MacCallum remarked:

Latham assumed leadership prematurely, lacked the necessary skills to manage internal party dynamics, neglected media relations, and depended on advisers who were outmatched by Howard's team. Nevertheless, he exhibited attributes uncommon in contemporary ALP leaders; under different circumstances, he might have evolved into a powerful leader or prime minister—one of the great what-ifs.

Publications

Most of Latham's publications appeared following the conclusion of his time in parliament.

Civilising Global Capital

During the late 1990s, while serving as a backbencher, Latham released Civilising Global Capital: New Thinking for Australian Labor (Allen and Unwin, 1998). In this work, he advocated for Labor to move away from many of its conventional policies and instead adopt aspirational ideals such as home ownership and expanded access to higher education. His focus was on appealing to the skilled working class and small business communities. These principles later influenced his leadership approach, embodying a third way philosophy.

Biography

Bernard Lagan authored Loner: Inside a Labor Tragedy, published in June 2005 by Allen & Unwin, which stirred considerable debate within Labor circles. The biography featured a critical email from Latham regarding Kim Beazley’s return to party leadership, along with severe assessments of state Labor premiers Bob Carr, Peter Beattie, and Geoff Gallop. Following the book’s release, union leader Bill Shorten publicly questioned Latham’s allegiance to the party.

In reflecting on his electoral loss, Latham wrote:

I had my opportunity to become prime minister. It did not succeed on multiple levels. Nevertheless, life continues... After facing testicular cancer, the greatest blessing has been the chance to have children with Janine. Squandering that would be foolish.

The Latham Diaries

Upon retiring from politics, Latham published diary entries covering nearly ten years. Melbourne University Press secured the rights to publish the Diaries in September 2005 after a competitive bidding process, granting exclusive excerpt rights to News Ltd and first interview rights to ABC's Enough Rope.

Selected passages released by The Australian contained pointed criticisms of the ALP, Kim Beazley, Kevin Rudd, Paul Keating, and Gough Whitlam. Legal conflicts over exclusivity between News Ltd and ABC initially prevented an early broadcast of Latham’s interview but it eventually aired following a court ruling that lifted the injunction.

The Diaries offer an unparalleled insider perspective on Australian political life. Latham portrayed the political system as one that transforms passionate individuals into "one-dimensional robots," highlighting widespread public disenchantment with political spin and electioneering methods.

A Conga Line of Suckholes

Latham’s seventh publication, a compilation of quotations entitled A Conga Line of Suckholes, was released by Melbourne University Publishing in September 2006.

"No Exit The ALP"

In November 2010, Latham authored an essay for The Monthly titled "No Exit The ALP," where he expressed criticism of the ALP’s trajectory under Kevin Rudd. He characterized Rudd’s time as prime minister as populist, marked by avoidance of difficult decisions and reliance on media tactics. Latham concluded that Labor had "lost its way." To rejuvenate social democracy, he suggested three strategies: restoring social capital and community engagement; repositioning Labor as an anti-establishment force challenging entrenched interests; and spearheading efforts on climate change to encourage a shift from Western materialism toward environmental consciousness. He recognized that each path presented significant obstacles.

Additional Publications

Latham has authored multiple books, including Reviving Labor's Agenda: A Program for Local Reform (1990), What Did You Learn Today?: Creating an Education Revolution (2001), From the Suburbs: Building a Nation from Our Neighbourhoods (2003), The Political Bubble: Why Australians Don't Trust Politics (2014), Latham at Large (2015), and Taking Back Australia: Saving Our Country, Our Culture, Our Civilisation (2018).

He contributed a weekly column titled "Latham's Law" to the Australian edition of Spectator magazine.

Lecture at Melbourne University

Following the publication of his Diaries, Latham delivered his inaugural public lecture on 27 September 2005 at Melbourne University, entitled "Ten Reasons Why Young Idealistic People Should Forget About Organised Politics". In this address, he contended that organised politics is ineffective in driving genuine social reform due to widespread public disengagement, increasing conservatism, and the inward-looking nature of major political parties. He encouraged young individuals to participate in grassroots and community-driven efforts instead. Additionally, he emphasized the detrimental impact politics can have on personal well-being, happiness, and family relationships, attributing these effects to what he described as the "arrogant" media and internal party disputes.

Hungry Jack's Incident

On 19 January 2006, while dining with his sons at a Hungry Jack's located in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Latham was photographed by a photographer from The Daily Telegraph. He reacted by grabbing and breaking the camera but left the memory card intact. The newspaper intended to publish the images and sought $12,000 to cover equipment replacement costs. The following day, Latham appeared to drive his vehicle towards a Channel 7 cameraman near his Sydney residence; no injuries were reported. In February 2006, Latham was charged with assault, malicious damage, and theft related to these events. He did not attend court sessions in March and April, opting instead to deliver lectures. On 6 June, he entered a guilty plea for malicious damage; this allowed him to avoid a criminal conviction but resulted in a two-year good behaviour bond. Charges of assault and theft were subsequently dropped. He compensated $6,763.70 for the damaged camera.

In August 2006, The Sun-Herald disclosed that Latham’s family had relocated from their Glen Alpine residence to a property near Camden at Mount Hunter.

Federal Election of 2007

In an article for the Australian Financial Review, Latham characterized the 2007 federal election campaign as a "Seinfeld election—a show about nothing." He asserted that irrespective of which party prevailed, Australia would continue with conservative economic strategies and maintain a decentralised industrial relations framework focused on productivity. He observed that Australian politics had reached an unprecedented level of policy similarity and anticipated that a Labor government would adopt a more cautious and conservative approach than its campaign promises implied.

Federal Election of 2010

During the 2010 federal election, Latham covered the event for 60 Minutes. In this capacity, he confronted Julia Gillard regarding her criticisms of his work with Channel 9 and suggested that Kevin Rudd was responsible for leaks against her during the campaign period.

Latham condemned Gillard's population growth strategy as misleading, arguing that authentic measures to alleviate urban population pressures would necessitate lowering immigration levels. Furthermore, he encouraged voters to express dissent by submitting blank ballots, stating:

They say that voting in Australia is compulsory, but it's not compulsory to fill out the ballot paper... That's what I'll be doing on Saturday and I urge you to do the same. It's the ultimate protest vote.

Subsequently, he continued his critiques targeting both Gillard and journalist Laurie Oakes.

2013 federal election

On 14 August 2013, amid the federal election campaign, Latham appeared on Melbourne's 3AW radio for an interview. He ignited debate by responding to Liberal leader Tony Abbott's remark that Liberal candidate Fiona Scott for Lindsay possessed "sex appeal." Latham challenged Abbott's discernment and moral standards, stating he did not consider Scott attractive and questioned Abbott’s fitness for prime ministership based on such evaluations.

It reflected very poor judgment and low standards. After examining Fiona Scott, I find no evidence of sex appeal. [... Abbott] must have been seeing things through beer goggles because she’s not that impressive, and I’d prefer a prime ministerial hopeful who is better at assessing character.

Controversy at the Australian Financial Review and Triple M

In August 2015, Latham ended his eight-year tenure as a regular columnist for the Australian Financial Review following backlash triggered by his articles criticizing Australian of the Year Rosie Batty and Group Captain Catherine McGregor.

Further dispute arose in January 2016 from Latham’s Triple M radio podcast, where he paraphrased a government report implying that "men who have lost their self-esteem" might resort to domestic violence "as a coping mechanism." He accused Batty—whose son was killed by his father—of "exploiting her personal tragedy" and overstating domestic violence rates, asserting official data shows it at only one percent. Batty responded by calling for increased awareness and rejecting Latham’s outdated perspectives.

Triple M endorses the White Ribbon Campaign, a men's organization opposing domestic violence. After Latham’s podcast aired, calls were made for White Ribbon to dissociate from both Triple M and Latham. White Ribbon chair John Rosewarn condemned Latham’s remarks as demonstrating ignorance regarding the complexity and prevalence of domestic violence. The group stressed that domestic violence encompasses more than physical harm and is never a form of coping.

2016 US presidential election

Throughout the 2016 United States presidential election, Latham expressed support for Republican nominee Donald Trump, commending Trump’s commitment to dismantle the Obama administration's Iran agreements and favoring his style over what he described as "machine politics and media manipulation."

Commentator

Following his federal political career, Latham transitioned into journalism and commentary, appearing on shows such as Sunrise (Seven Network) and The Verdict (Nine Network). In 2016, he co-hosted Sky News Live's Jones + Co, followed by Outsiders in 2017.

In March 2017, Latham encountered criticism for a segment about corporate diversity officers that featured a colleague’s spouse, drawing reprimands from Sky News presenters Peter van Onselen and Kristina Keneally. Latham retaliated with accusations against Keneally, leading to threats of defamation actions and formal complaints. Separately, ABC Radio Sydney host Wendy Harmer threatened legal proceedings after Latham alleged her appointment was based on gender and disability. Sky News publicly repudiated Latham's statements and issued apologies to both women.

During an Outsiders episode, Latham questioned a student's sexuality in relation to a Sydney Boys High School video supporting International Women's Day. This incident contributed to his dismissal from Sky News on 29 March 2017.

He subsequently defended his comments, asserting the discourse was misinterpreted and no offense was intended.

In April 2017, Latham launched an independent platform named Mark Latham's Outsiders featuring a weekly Facebook Live broadcast, unrelated to the Sky News program bearing the same title.

That same month, he published a video titled What's Gone Wrong With Australian Multiculturalism: Ethnic Enclaves in Fairfield, where he criticized limited English proficiency and ethnic segregation in Fairfield. Local officials and community representatives contested his assertions, emphasizing existing initiatives supporting refugees’ English language acquisition.

In 2019, Latham served as a keynote speaker at Australia’s inaugural Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), sharing the stage with former prime minister Tony Abbott and British politician Nigel Farage.

Liberal Democrats (2017–2018)

In May 2017, Latham revealed on Facebook that he had joined the Liberal Democrats, a party with libertarian principles. In response, the Labor Party enforced a permanent ban on Latham rejoining, following a resolution passed by the New South Wales branch. Latham explained that he had terminated his ALP membership in March 2017 after being refused permission to speak at a party event.

He indicated a willingness to stand as a Liberal Democrats candidate in upcoming elections. Nevertheless, the party’s executive committee blocked his nomination, prompting him to leave the party in September 2018.

One Nation (2018–2023)

Latham became the state leader of One Nation in New South Wales in November 2018 and ran for a seat in the Legislative Council during the 2019 state election. His campaign platform opposed immigration, traffic congestion, excessive development, renewable energy initiatives, and included proposals for DNA testing of Aboriginal welfare recipients as well as banning burqas in government facilities.

He won an eight-year term in the Legislative Council alongside fellow member Rod Roberts. In his inaugural speech, Latham condemned "leftist elites," highlighted the importance of Western civilization values, education, and free speech, making reference to the Israel Folau controversy.

Starting in 2020, Latham championed the "Parental Rights" legislation aimed at banning the teaching of "gender fluidity ideology" within schools. In 2021, he sought to remove Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu from New South Wales school curricula; this motion gained support from One Nation and minor parties but was opposed by major parties.

In October 2022, Latham declared his intention to resign prior to the 2023 New South Wales state election and then run again as One Nation’s lead candidate to expand their Legislative Council representation from two seats to four. He officially resigned on 2 March 2023 and was re-elected 23 days later; his vacated seat was subsequently filled by Tania Mihailuk.

After a federal intervention in One Nation following a 14% reduction in vote share at the 2023 NSW election, Latham was removed from his role as NSW state leader. He criticized Pauline Hanson for her own declining electoral support and accused her of filling the NSW executive with members from other states. His colleagues were split: Roberts sided with Latham’s criticism, while Mihailuk appeared supportive of Hanson. On 22 August 2023, both Latham and Roberts resigned from One Nation to serve as independents.

Immigration

Latham supports imposing travel restrictions on certain Islamic countries, arguing that nations known for producing potential terrorists should be denied entry into Australia.

Burqa ban

He advocates for prohibiting burqas within government offices, financial institutions, and airports.

Same-sex marriage

While previously expressing support for same-sex marriage, Latham endorsed a 'no' vote during the 2017 Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, cautioning that it could "open a can of worms."

Controversy over Alex Greenwich's homophobic tweet

Following the 2023 New South Wales state election, openly gay MP Alex Greenwich referred to Latham as "a disgusting human being" after pro-LGBT demonstrators were attacked during a speech by Latham on religious freedom and education. In retaliation, Latham posted a tweet labeling anal sex between men as "disgusting," a statement that drew widespread condemnation for being offensive and homophobic—even from his own legal team, who called the tweet "offensive and crass" but clarified it was not defamatory.

This tweet generated considerable backlash, including criticism from members within Latham’s own party. Pauline Hanson demanded an apology, which Latham declined to issue despite removing the tweet. Greenwich characterized the remark as profoundly hurtful and declared Latham "unfit for public office." Conservative commentator Andrew Bolt questioned Latham's suitability for leadership following the episode. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the tweet as "vile and shameful," with Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud also expressing strong disapproval.

In April 2023, Greenwich threatened legal proceedings citing "homosexual vilification," while Opposition Leader Mark Speakman criticized Latham’s refusal to apologize. The following month, Greenwich initiated defamation litigation and filed formal complaints alleging harassment and vilification.

On 11 September 2024, Federal Court Judge David O'Callaghan determined that Latham’s tweet was defamatory because it portrayed Greenwich as engaging in "disgusting sexual activities," dismissing Latham’s defenses. The court awarded Greenwich $140,000 in damages. Greenwich hailed the verdict as a significant precedent discouraging discriminatory political attacks based on sexual orientation within Australian public discourse.

Australia Day

In 2018, Latham launched a Save Australia Day campaign, supported by Indigenous politician Jacinta Price, opposing the #ChangeTheDate movement that sought to relocate or abolish the Australia Day holiday. He argued that altering the date would not benefit disadvantaged Indigenous communities and cautioned that changing or removing Australia Day could jeopardize Australia's future social cohesion.

Personal life

Latham married Gabrielle Gwyther in 1991; they separated in 1997 and finalized their divorce in 1999. He later married Janine Lacy in 2000, with whom he has two sons. The couple separated in 2022.

Identifying as a humanist and agnostic, Latham has conveyed belief in a spiritual force beyond the physical world but rejects organized religion.

In July 2025, an apprehended violence order was filed against Latham by a former partner; he denies all allegations.

Further reading

• Duffy, Michael (2004), Latham and Abbott. The lives and rivalry of the two finest politicians of their generation, Random House Australia, Milsons Point (NSW).
• Lagan, Bernard (2005), Loner. Inside a Labor Tragedy, Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest, New South Wales.
• Latham, Mark (1998), Civilising global capital: new thinking for Australian Labor, Allen and Unwin, St Leonards, New South Wales.
• Latham, Mark (2001), What did you learn today? : creating an education revolution, Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest, New South Wales.
• Latham, Mark (2002), Wedge politics and the culture war in Australia, Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King's College, University of London, London, England.
• Latham, Mark (2003), From the Suburbs: Building a Nation from Our Neighbourhoods, Pluto Press, Annandale, New South Wales.
• Latham, Mark (2005), The Latham Diaries, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.
• Latham, Mark (2006), A conga line of suckholes: Mark Latham's book of quotations, Melbourne University Publishing, Carlton, Victoria.
• Latham, Mark (2017), Outsiders, Wilkinson Publishing, Melbourne, Victoria
• Latham, Mark (2018), Taking Back Australia: Saving Our Country, Our Culture, Our Civilisation, Wilkinson Publishing, Melbourne, Victoria
• McGregor, Craig (2004), Australian Son: Inside Mark Latham, Pluto Press, North Melbourne Victoria.

External links

• Greenwich v Latham – online case file from the Federal Court of Australia
• Abraham, Matt (9 July 2004). Howard's toughest interview of the year. Crikey.com.au
• Allard, Tom; & Metherell, Mark (11 October 2004). Late release of policy cost Latham the Lodge. The Sydney Morning Herald
• A fair dinkum Labor hero (4 December 2003). The Economist
• Ill health ends Latham's career. NEWS.com.au
• Latham quits (18 January 2005). ABC News Online
• Mark Latham's concession speech from the 2004 Australian election
• Latham diaries reveal 'fantastic bile'
• First installment of two-part series on Latham's personal life in The Sydney Morning Herald
• Second installment of two-part series on Latham's private life in The Sydney Morning Herald
• Labor’s rebranded leader (BBC)
• August 2002%3BSEQ_NUM:99%3B Transcript of Mark Latham’s New Political Correctness speech to the House of Representatives, 26 August 2002Text version