Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has filed a lawsuit against Mark Latham, the leader of New South Wales’ One Nation party, for his repeated homophobic comments. Greenwich has demanded a public apology and a retraction of Latham’s comments, and has pledged to pursue maximum damages unless Latham agrees to never make similar comments again.
The lawsuit comes after Latham refused to apologize for a graphic tweet he posted and deleted on March 30th, which Greenwich described as “defamatory and homophobic”. In response, Latham has doubled down on his comments, sparking further anger from Greenwich.
Greenwich has also lodged a complaint of homosexual vilification with the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW, and made a police complaint against Latham for allegedly using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. These matters would not be impacted by an apology.
The comments were made after Greenwich called Latham “a disgusting human being” following an incident where LGBTQ+ protesters were attacked outside a candidates’ forum that included Latham as a speaker. Greenwich has stated that he is also taking action for young and old LGBTQ+ people who face regular abuse.
In response to the lawsuit, Latham has until May 17th to publicly apologize and retract his comments, or else face legal action. His refusal to apologize may also impact his ability to serve in parliament, as he may be charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend. If convicted, Latham would be forced out of parliament under NSW law.
Greenwich’s legal team has stated that the matter is “significant”, and they plan to pursue maximum damages in the lawsuit. The case highlights the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in Australia, and the need for continued legal protections against homophobia and discrimination.
