Former Labor leader Mark Latham has taken to the witness stand, using his time to accuse his political rival, independent MP Alex Greenwich, of being unable to handle public criticism amid a case concerning alleged homosexual vilification. Latham testified at a tribunal in Sydney following accusations of vilification and workplace harassment made against him by Greenwich.
The central issue of the case revolves around a sexually explicit tweet that the Federal Court determined as defamatory, along with various media comments made by Latham, who is currently serving as an Independent in the upper house of the New South Wales Parliament. During his testimony, Latham did not hold back, accusing Greenwich of attempting to silence him through legal action and suggesting that the former Labor MP is overly sensitive to criticism.
Latham remarked, “If Greenwich has a leak in his roof, he’d stomp around his house saying, ‘Bloody Latham, bloody Latham,'” illustrating his belief that Greenwich blames him for various problems. He described the tribunal hearing as “an absurd proposition,” asserting that his earlier critiques of Greenwich were “100 per cent true.” Greenwich’s legal team argued that Latham’s original tweet continues to inflict harm on their client.
Latham’s lawyer attempted to introduce additional evidence, including references where he described Greenwich as a “spoilt child” and mentioned details regarding his father. However, the tribunal limited the scope of this evidence, with senior tribunal member Mandy Tibbey questioning its relevance. She remarked that the evidence did not seem to aid his case and expressed a desire to see the conflict between the parties come to a close.
The tribunal also denied Greenwich’s team’s request to submit ongoing evidence if they believed the purported harmful tweets persisted. It was noted that continuing disputes might make the matter protracted, an outcome Latham’s lawyer wished to avoid. Tibbey indicated a preference for a cessation of hostilities, echoing sentiments expressed by Greenwich’s counsel, who stated that their client was eager for a resolution to the issue.
After the two-day tribunal hearings, Greenwich expressed relief at their conclusion and voiced his desire to move forward from the situation. The ongoing legal tussle between the former leader and the independent MP reflects ongoing tensions within the political landscape of New South Wales.