Mark Latham, a member of the New South Wales upper house, held a press conference addressing allegations against him, amid a week filled with controversy involving claims of domestic violence and inappropriate behaviour. The conference, which lasted about 40 minutes, veered into an extended monologue where Latham asserted, “I’ve broken no law.”
During his address, Latham made several digressions, including comments directed at NSW Premier Chris Minns and journalists. He claimed that Minns was “blissfully ignored” by many of his colleagues and dismissed the media with remarks that suggested they were insincere and untrustworthy.
Latham specifically responded to allegations made by his former partner, Nathalie Matthews, who is seeking a private aggravated violence order against him, accusing him of emotional and physical abuse. In his rebuttal, Latham characterised Matthews’ claims as “nonsense,” contending that law enforcement did not pursue any action in the matter because there was no basis for it. He accused Matthews of “attacking” the police for not intervening when they believed she wasn’t in danger.
While Latham did not directly deny allegations of inappropriate conduct within state parliament, he did refute claims that he possessed any recordings of their intimate encounters, stating, “I have checked my devices and I can’t find any material.”
Matthews responded to the press conference, issuing a statement acknowledging Latham’s comments but declining to elaborate further, citing the ongoing legal proceedings. She requested privacy during what she described as a challenging time, asserting that “the full story will come out in due course in the proper manner.” Her application for an apprehended violence order is scheduled to be heard in two weeks.
As the situation unfolds, calls are increasing for a formal investigation into Latham’s conduct in the NSW parliament.