Alex Greenwich accused fellow MP Mark Latham of ‘abusive obsession’

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Independent New South Wales MP Alex Greenwich has told a tribunal Mark Latham has an abusive obsession with him which began with a defamatory tweet and has not stopped since. Mr Latham has denied breaching the state's anti-discrimination act. He claims no court or tribunal should be used to restrict the freedom of speech of elected MPs.

Transcript

00:00It's not the first time these political rivals have faced off in a legal battle.

00:07At the beginning of the day, Mark Latham made his thoughts on this one clear.

00:12Here at NCAT, dealing with the absurd proposition that Alex Greenwich, the MLA for Sydney,

00:17is the first politician in history who should never be publicly criticised,

00:21even with things that are 100% true.

00:24But Mr Latham has already lost a defamation case about one particular tweet in 2023.

00:30That same tweet is among four public statements said to have breached anti-discrimination laws.

00:36In response to Mr Greenwich calling him a disgusting human being in comments to a journalist,

00:41Mr Latham referenced a sexual act in graphic terms.

00:45This was the first time in my political career where I have been so fundamentally attacked

00:50for who I am, for my sexuality, Mr Greenwich told the tribunal today.

00:55He alleges Mr Latham has used social media, radio interviews, even a podcast to continue attacking him.

01:02This is a man who has an abusive obsession with me.

01:05It began with this tweet and it has not stopped.

01:08In his evidence, Mr Greenwich insisted he was entitled to provide a comment

01:12on the political activities of Mr Latham in the lead up to an election.

01:16Do you agree that statement is an act of public bullying and poking the bear, so to speak,

01:22to provoke a reaction from Mr Latham?

01:24No, I don't.

01:25Several times during Mr Greenwich's evidence, Mark Latham's disagreement from the public gallery

01:30was obvious, including through audible comments.

01:33Eventually, the senior member overseeing the hearing, Mandy Tibby, warned that anyone observing

01:38the evidence should be doing so in silence.

01:41As he left court, Mr Latham said there was context to his 2023 tweet.

01:46Having accused me of being a disgusting human being, of being an extremely, extremely dangerous

01:54and hateful individual, calling on Chris Minns and Dominic Perrottet to condemn me.

02:00He'll have his turn in the witness box tomorrow.

02:02We'll see you next time.

02:03All right.

02:04Bye.

02:05Bye.

02:06Bye.

02:07Bye.

02:08nalory Man.

02:09See you next time.

02:10Bye.

02:12Bye.

02:13Bye.

02:14Bye.

02:15Bye.

02:17Bye.

02:18Bye.

02:19Bye bye.

02:21Bye.

02:22Bye bye.

02:23Bye.

02:25Bye.

02:27Bye.

02:28Bye bye.

02:29Bye, bye.

02:30Bye.

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