View source for Mark Latham

{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1961)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Mark Latham
| honorific-suffix    = [[New South Wales Legislative Council|MLC]]
| image               = Mark_Latham.png
| image_size          = 
| caption             = Latham in 2017

| office              = Member of the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]]
| term_start          = 25 March 2023
| term_start1          = 23 March 2019
| term_end1           = 2 March 2023
| successor1          = [[Tania Mihailuk]]
| office2             =  Leader of [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation – New South Wales|One Nation]] [[One Nation NSW|NSW]]
| term_start2         = 7 November 2018
| term_end2           = 14 August 2023
| predecessor2        = [[Brian Burston]]
| successor2          = [[Tania Mihailuk]]

| parliament3         = Australian
| constituency_MP3    = [[Division of Werriwa|Werriwa]]
| term_start3         = 29 January 1994
| term_end3           = 21 January 2005
| predecessor3        = [[John Kerin]]
| successor3          = [[Chris Hayes (politician)|Chris Hayes]]
| office4             = [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| term_start4         = 2 December 2003
| term_end4           = 18 January 2005
| primeminister4      = [[John Howard]]
| deputy4             = [[Jenny Macklin]]
| predecessor4        = [[Simon Crean]]
| successor4          = [[Kim Beazley]]
| office5             = [[Leader of the Australian Labor Party]]
| term_start5         = 2 December 2003
| term_end5           = 18 January 2005
| deputy5             = [[Jenny Macklin]]
| predecessor5        = [[Simon Crean]]
| successor5          = [[Kim Beazley]]
| office6             = [[Manager of Opposition Business in the House (Australia)|Manager of Opposition Business]]
| leader6             = [[Simon Crean]]
| term_start6         = 16 June 2003
| term_end6           = 8 December 2003
| predecessor6        = [[Wayne Swan]]
| successor6          = [[Julia Gillard]]

{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Local government|titlestyle= background-color:#eee}}

| office8             = [[List of mayors of Liverpool (New South Wales)|Mayor of Liverpool]]
| term_start8         = 1991
| term_end8           = 1994
| predecessor8        = Colin Harrington
| successor8          = [[George Paciullo]]
| office9             = Alderman of the [[City of Liverpool (New South Wales)|City of Liverpool]] <br/> for [[City of Liverpool (New South Wales)|South Ward]]
| term_start9         = 1991
| term_end9           = 1994
| office10             = Alderman of the [[City of Liverpool (New South Wales)|City of Liverpool]] <br/> for [[City of Liverpool (New South Wales)|East Ward]]
| term_start10         = 1987
| term_end10           = 1991

{{Collapsed infobox section end}}

| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1961|2|28|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Ashcroft, New South Wales]], Australia
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| spouse              = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Gabrielle Gwyther|1991|1999|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Janine Lacey|2000|2022|end=divorced}}
}}
| alma_mater          = [[University of Sydney]] ([[Bachelor of Economics|BEc]])
| children            = 3
| party               = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (since 2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/latham-quits-one-nation-alleges-it-misspent-taxpayers-funds-20230822-p5dyhg.html|title=Latham quits One Nation, alleges it misspent taxpayers funds|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|last1=Maddison|first1=Max|date=22 August 2023|accessdate=22 August 2023}}</ref>
| otherparty          = {{nowrap|[[Pauline Hanson's One Nation|One Nation]] (2018–2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/former-labor-leader-mark-latham-joins-pauline-hansons-one-nation-party-in-nsw/news-story/7a68550669cd4edd823146e10f9708c4|title=Former Labor leader Mark Latham joins Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in NSW|date=6 November 2018|first1=Sharri|last1=Markson}}</ref>}}<br />[[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Liberal Democrats]] (2017–2018)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-08/mark-latham-joins-liberal-democratic-party/8507842|title=Mark Latham joins Liberal Democrats Party, hails them as 'party of freedom'|date=8 May 2017|first1=Monique|last1=Ross|newspaper=ABC News|access-date=8 May 2017|archive-date=8 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508082457/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-08/mark-latham-joins-liberal-democratic-party/8507842|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/mark-latham-quits-liberal-democrats/news-story/a31c15c8a72fcc5daaf880056356c42a|title=Mark Latham quits Liberal Democrats|date=3 September 2018|url-access=subscription }}</ref><br />[[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] (1979–2017)
| residence           = [[Mount Hunter, New South Wales|Mount Hunter]], New South Wales<ref>{{cite web |title=Candidates - Legislative Council Group Q: ONE NATION |url=https://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/state-government-elections/2023-state-general-election/candidates/nsw/legislative%20council/10 |website=Elections NSW |publisher=[[New South Wales Electoral Commission]] |access-date=28 April 2023 |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428071927/https://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/state-government-elections/2023-state-general-election/candidates/nsw/legislative%20council/10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| honorific_prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
}}
'''Mark William Latham''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|eɪ|θ|ə|m}}; born 28 February 1961) is an Australian politician and media commentator who is a member of the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]]. He previously served as the leader of the [[Australian Labor Party]] (ALP) and [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|leader of the opposition]] from December 2003 to January 2005, leading the party to defeat at the [[2004 Australian federal election|2004 federal election]]. He left the ALP in 2017 and joined [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation]] in 2018, gaining a seat for that party in the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]] at the [[2019 New South Wales state election]] and winning re-election [[2023 New South Wales state election|in 2023]].

Latham was born in Sydney and studied economics at the [[University of Sydney]]. He joined the Labor Party at a young age and worked as a research assistant to [[Gough Whitlam]] and [[Bob Carr]]. He was elected to the [[City of Liverpool (New South Wales)|Liverpool City Council]] in 1987 and became [[List of mayors of Liverpool (New South Wales)|mayor]] in 1991. Latham entered the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] by winning the seat of [[Division of Werriwa|Werriwa]] at the [[1994 Werriwa by-election]]. He was included in Labor's [[shadow cabinet]] after the [[1996 Australian federal election|1996 federal election]], but left the [[frontbench]] in 1998 following a dispute with the party leader, [[Kim Beazley]]. He returned to the shadow cabinet in 2001, when [[Simon Crean]] became leader.

Latham became leader of the Labor Party in December 2003, narrowly defeating Beazley in [[2003 Australian Labor Party leadership spills|a leadership vote]] after Crean's resignation. He was the youngest leader of the party since [[Chris Watson]] in 1901. At the 2004 federal election, the ALP lost five seats and reduced its share of the [[two-party-preferred vote]]; the incumbent [[Howard government]] was re-elected to a fourth term. Latham became disillusioned with politics and retired in January 2005. After leaving politics, he published a memoir, ''[[The Latham Diaries]]'', in which he attacked his former colleagues and condemned the state of political life in Australia.

After leaving parliament, Latham started a career as a prominent political and social commentator, and became highly critical of the Labor Party and left-wing politics. He would soon gain a reputation for making inflammatory and controversial comments.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2019/august/1564581600/sean-kelly/mark-latham-outsider|title=Mark Latham: The outsider|work=[[The Monthly]]|first=Sean|last=Kelly|date=1 August 2019|access-date=25 June 2022|archive-date=30 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530113825/https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2019/august/1564581600/sean-kelly/mark-latham-outsider|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2016, he began co-hosting ''[[Outsiders (Australian TV program)|Outsiders]]'' on [[Sky News Live]],<ref name="Knox-2016">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/11/airdate-outsiders.html|title=Airdate: Outsiders|date=21 November 2016|access-date=21 November 2016|first=David|last=Knox|work=TV Tonight|archive-date=21 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121031253/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/11/airdate-outsiders.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but he was fired from the network in March 2017 after he made insulting comments about a fellow presenter and the teenage daughter of a governor of the [[Reserve Bank of Australia]].<ref name="Meade-2017">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/29/mark-latham-sacked-by-sky-news-after-controversial-remarks|title=Mark Latham sacked by Sky News Australia after controversial remarks|first=Amanda|last=Meade|work=The Guardian|date=29 March 2017|access-date=29 March 2017|archive-date=29 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329080309/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/29/mark-latham-sacked-by-sky-news-after-controversial-remarks|url-status=live}}</ref> Latham returned to politics and joined the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Liberal Democratic Party]] in May 2017, which led to him receiving a lifetime ban from the Labor Party. In November 2018, Latham left the Liberal Democrats and announced that he had joined [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation|One Nation]] as its state leader in New South Wales. He successfully stood for One Nation in the upper house at the [[2019 New South Wales state election|2019 state election]]. He resigned in the middle of his eight-year term on 2 March 2023 in order to run for a new eight-year term at the [[2023 New South Wales state election|state election]] later that month.

In August 2023, One Nation federal leader [[Pauline Hanson]] announced Latham had been removed as leader of the party's [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation – New South Wales|New South Wales division]].<ref name="Roe-2023">{{Cite news |last=Roe |first=Isobel |date=14 August 2023 |title=Mark Latham dumped from One Nation's NSW leadership by Pauline Hanson |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-14/mark-latham-removed-as-nsw-one-nation-leader-pauline-hanson/102727170 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> Shortly thereafter Latham resigned from One Nation to sit as an independent.<ref name="Maddison-2023">{{Cite web |last=Maddison |first=Max |date=22 August 2023 |title=Latham quits One Nation, alleges it misspent taxpayer funds |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/latham-quits-one-nation-alleges-it-misspent-taxpayers-funds-20230822-p5dyhg.html |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref>
{{toc limit|3}}

==Early career==
Latham was born on 28 February 1961 in [[Ashcroft, New South Wales|Ashcroft]], a suburb of south-western Sydney in [[New South Wales]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/mark-latham/10642832|title=Mark Latham|website=Q+A}}</ref> He was educated at Hurlstone Public School; the [[Hurlstone Agricultural High School]], where he was [[dux]]; and at the [[University of Sydney]], where he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Economics]] with Honours in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.onenation.org.au/mark-latham/ |title=Mark Latham |publisher=One Nation |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021050254/https://www.onenation.org.au/mark-latham |url-status=live }}</ref> While he was a student, Latham worked at the Green Valley Hotel for 2 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/young-man-in-a-hurry-20040712-gdjbm2.html |title=Young man in a hurry |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=12 July 2004 |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032048/https://www.smh.com.au/national/young-man-in-a-hurry-20040712-gdjbm2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also worked as an adviser to Labor politician [[John Kerin]] from 1980 to 1982. After completing his degree, Latham worked as a research assistant to the former Labor prime minister [[Gough Whitlam]] from 1982 to 1987, which included working on the latter's book ''The Whitlam Government'', and then as an adviser to then-Leader of the New South Wales Opposition [[Bob Carr]] from 1988 to 1991.<ref name="SMH-2004">{{Cite web |date=12 July 2004 |title=Young man in a hurry |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/young-man-in-a-hurry-20040712-gdjbm2.html |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref>

In 1987, he was elected to the [[City of Liverpool (New South Wales)|Liverpool City Council]], in Sydney's south-west, and was mayor from 1991 to 1994.<ref>{{cite Au Parliament |mpid=K26 |name=Mr Mark Latham MP |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> Latham played rugby union with the Liverpool Bulls club and had a stint as its president. He has also been a fan of [[St. George Illawarra Dragons|St George Dragons]] [[rugby league]] club since 1968.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Mark Latham|date=18 September 2010|title=League is the game they play in Heaven|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2010/09/league-is-the-game-they-play-in-heaven/|journal=The Spectator|access-date=11 April 2017|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212053049/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2010/09/league-is-the-game-they-play-in-heaven/|url-status=live}}<!-- |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411140406/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2010/09/league-is-the-game-they-play-in-heaven/ --></ref>

Latham's term as mayor saw radical changes introduced to the council, with large spending on public works, to be paid for by a combination of loans and efficiencies achieved from outsourcing many council services.<ref name="SMH-2004"/>

In an article in ''[[Quarterly Essay]]'', journalist [[Margaret Simons]], who conducted an extensive investigation of the period, concluded that there were real issues in the financial management of the council. These mostly related to the drafting of the outsourcing agreements. Simons also said most of the allegations come from council members who were sacked for incompetence by the state government.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2004/09/lathams-world/extract |journal=[[Quarterly Essay]] |issue=15 |date=September 2004 |first=Margaret |last=Simons |title=Latham's World: The new politics of the outsiders |access-date=11 November 2021 |archive-date=11 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111065747/https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2004/09/lathams-world/extract |url-status=live }}{{Verify source|date=November 2021|reason=Not in extract}}</ref>

On 1 June 2004, Latham told Parliament that during his time as mayor he had reduced Liverpool's [[debt service ratio]] from 17 to 10 percent, which he said was less than half of western Sydney's average. He also said Liverpool had adopted a debt retirement strategy that he claimed would have made it debt free by 2005, but it was not implemented by his successors.<ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia |house=House of Representatives |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2004-06-01/0038/hansard_frag.pdf |title=personal explanation |speaker=Latham, Mark |date=1 June 2014 |page_start=29661 |page_end=29662 |access-date=11 November 2021 }} {{Cite web |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2004-06-01/0038/hansard_frag.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 November 2021 |archive-date=11 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111071240/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansardr/2004-06-01/0038/hansard_frag.pdf |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

==Labor member of Parliament==
In January 1994, Latham was elected at a by-election to the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] for the Sydney [[Division of Werriwa|seat of Werriwa]], which had been Gough Whitlam's seat from 1952 to 1978.<ref>Lyle Allan (1994), 'Immigration and the Werriwa By-Election,' in ''People and Place'', Vol.2, No.1, pp.53–56</ref> He was elected to the Opposition front bench after Labor lost the [[1996 Australian federal election|1996 election]], and became [[shadow minister]] for education. After the [[1998 Australian federal election|1998 election]] he resigned from the front bench following a policy dispute with the opposition leader, [[Kim Beazley]]. The two became political enemies following this incident.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

The views expressed in ''Civilising Global Capital'' (see below) alienated him from many Labor traditionalists, but his aggressive parliamentary style (resembling Keating's one) won him many admirers. He once referred to Prime Minister [[John Howard]] as an "arselicker" and to the Liberal Party frontbench as a "conga line of suckholes".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/11/1044927598634.html |title=Bush gushes, PM blushes in war office |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=12 February 2003 |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-date=15 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215031509/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/11/1044927598634.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also described U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] as "the most incompetent and dangerous president in living memory".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2267198 |title=Australia &#124; A fair dinkum Labor hero |newspaper=The Economist |date=4 December 2003 |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-date=25 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325020408/http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2267198 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On politics, Latham commented in 2002: <blockquote>I'm a hater. Part of the tribalness of politics is to really dislike the other side with intensity. And the more I see of them the more I hate them. I hate their negativity. I hate their narrowness. I hate the way, for instance, John Howard tries to appeal to suburban values when I know that he hasn't got any real answers to the problems and challenges we face. I hate the phoniness of that.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Australian Associated Press |url=http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/EdDesk.nsf/All/E5D0425446FA0C07CA256BDE0016BE7C |title=The Bulletin publishes for the last time |publisher=Bulletin.ninemsn.com.au |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829003608/http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/EdDesk.nsf/All/E5D0425446FA0C07CA256BDE0016BE7C |archive-date=29 August 2008 }}</ref></blockquote>

==Leader of the Opposition (2003-2005)==
Latham was a strong supporter of Kim Beazley's successor [[Simon Crean]], defending the leader against his critics within the party. He called Crean's principal frontbench detractors, [[Stephen Smith (Australian politician)|Stephen Smith]], [[Stephen Conroy]] and [[Wayne Swan]] "the three roosters". When Crean resigned the Labor leadership, Latham contested the ballot for leader against Beazley. On 2 December 2003, Latham won the vote for the leadership by 47 votes to 45. [[Kevin Rudd]] and [[Julia Gillard]] were early contenders for the leadership, but both withdrew in favour of Beazley and Latham respectively. At age 42, Latham became the youngest leader of the federal parliamentary Labor Party since its first leader [[Chris Watson]], who became leader at age 33 in 1901. In his first press conference as leader, Latham championed his belief in a "[[ladder of opportunity]]" that would bring prosperity to all Australians.

[[File:Latham-Hawke.jpg|thumb|left|Latham with former Prime Minister [[Bob Hawke]], unveiling a plaque to commemorate the centenary of the first Australian federal Labor government, Melbourne, April 2004]]
The [[Howard government]] targeted Latham's brash personality and his colourful past. Howard characterised him as "Mr Flip-Flop".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-02-16 |title=Govt backbenchers put pay issue away |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-02-16/govt-backbenchers-put-pay-issue-away/136354 |access-date=2025-09-05 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> [[Peter Costello]] attempted to damage Latham's economic credentials by referring to the experimental economic ideas that he had put forward as shadow treasurer, such as abolishing [[negative gearing]] and replacing the [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|GST]] with a Progressive Expenditure Tax. Frequent references were made to Latham's temper; he was alleged to have broken a taxi-driver's arm in a scuffle arising from a fare dispute.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/1473680/Why-Sydney-taxi-drivers-call-Mark-Latham-Sir.html |title=Why Sydney taxi drivers call Mark Latham 'Sir' |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=8 October 2004 |access-date=10 September 2012 |location=Sydney |first=Stephen |last=Robinson |archive-date=26 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426150945/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/1473680/Why-Sydney-taxi-drivers-call-Mark-Latham-Sir.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On winning the leadership, Latham appointed his predecessor, [[Simon Crean]], as shadow treasurer, while also retaining a number of [[Kim Beazley]]'s supporters in senior positions. In July 2004, Beazley himself was re-elected to the ALP front bench as Shadow Minister for Defence.

In January 2004, the Labor Party national conference was held in Sydney. During the conference, Latham received very positive media coverage and introduced his plans for early childhood literacy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-01-31 |title=Latham promises to 'read aloud' on literacy |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-01-31/latham-promises-to-read-aloud-on-literacy/128536 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-02-09 |title=Book in for a head start |url=https://www.theage.com.au/education/book-in-for-a-head-start-20040209-gdx9vm.html |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref> As leader, he chose to focus on "values" issues, such as early childhood policy, education and health reform, and economic relief for middle-class Australia, which he termed with the political slogan "ease the squeeze".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-09-08 |title=Latham wheels his ladder out |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/latham-wheels-his-ladder-out-20040908-gdylj8.html |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-09-07 |title=Latham makes pitch to middle Australia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-09-07/latham-makes-pitch-to-middle-australia/2039644 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In March, following the [[2004 Spanish general election|Spanish election]] at which the pro-Bush administration [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] government was defeated, Latham sparked a new controversy by committing a Labor government to withdrawing Australian troops from [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|Iraq]] by Christmas. At that time, Australia had about 850 troops in Iraq, mostly involved in patrol work and in training members of the new Iraqi defence forces. Howard accused Latham of a "cut and run" approach and said "it's not the Australian way not to stay the distance".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abc.gov.au/news/stories/2004/03/24/1072806.htm |title=PM attacks Latham's pull-out plan |newspaper=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 March 2004 |access-date=1 July 2010 |archive-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701102028/http://abc.gov.au/news/stories/2004/03/24/1072806.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2004 federal election campaign===
{{See also|2004 Australian federal election}}
[[File:goughandmark.jpg|thumb|Latham with mentor, former Prime Minister [[Gough Whitlam]], at an election fundraiser in Melbourne, September 2004]]

Until March 2004, Labor under Latham's leadership held a strong lead in national opinion polls. Latham's commitment to withdraw from Iraq was seen as divisive, and potentially harmful to his chances of electoral success.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tingle |first=Laura |last2=Correspondent |first2=Chief Political |date=2004-03-27 |title=Who wins this dangerous war? |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/manufacturing/who-wins-this-dangerous-war-20040327-jkleu |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref> During the campaign, Latham was accused of "flip-flopping" between being supportive and critical of the Iraq war, in an attempt to appease both the U.S. government, as well as more moderate voters.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-07-13 |title=Latham 'betting each way' on Iraq |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-07-13/latham-betting-each-way-on-iraq/2008688 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CNN.com - Latham softens Iraq troop policy - Jul 12, 2004 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/07/12/iraq.australia.latham/index.html |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=edition.cnn.com}}</ref>

In June 2004, Labor's "troops home by Christmas" policy came under fire from U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] who, at a White House press conference during Howard's visit to Washington DC, described it as "disastrous".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-06-06 |title=Labor brushes off Bush criticism |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-06-06/labor-brushes-off-bush-criticism/1987990 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Shortly afterwards, Latham announced the recruitment of [[Peter Garrett]], president of the [[Australian Conservation Foundation]] and former lead singer with the rock band [[Midnight Oil]], as a Labor candidate in [[Division of Kingsford Smith|Kingsford Smith]], a safe Sydney electorate being vacated by the retiring former minister [[Laurie Brereton]]. Garrett revealed that he had been approached months before by senior ALP figures, including [[John Faulkner]] and Kim Beazley, and had taken this long to make up his mind.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/07/1086460209918.html |title=Latham backs Garrett for safe seat |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=7 June 2004 |access-date=1 July 2010 |archive-date=28 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928170031/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/07/1086460209918.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 

The second coup scored by Latham was the announcement that he would abolish the generous [[superannuation]] schemes available to members of parliament; his plan was quickly adopted by the Howard government in the face of a rising wave of public support with the support of his mentor former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, the former member for Werriwa.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-02-13 |title=Howard's shock move on super |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/howards-shock-move-on-super-20040213-gdxat7.html |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref>

Other announced policies and initiatives included: the introduction of federal government parenting classes for those parents deemed to be failing to adequately discipline their children; a ban on food and drink advertising during children's television viewing hours; the introduction of a national youth mentoring program; the government distribution of free story books to the families of newborn children; a federal ban on plastic shopping bags; and the introduction of legislation to prohibit vilification on the basis of religious beliefs or sexual orientation, similar to laws adopted in the state of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] that some critics said had led to a restriction of free speech. Some of these initiatives prompted Howard to criticise Latham as a "behavioural policeman".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-10-07 |title=Howard warns Latham means 'change for the worse' |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-10-07/howard-warns-latham-means-change-for-the-worse/564706 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

[[File:L-plate latham.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Liberal-National coalition focused heavily on Latham's inexperience during the campaign (in Australia, yellow "[[L-plate]]s" are attached to cars driven by learner drivers).]]

In July 2004, Latham again became the centre of controversy when it was alleged on a commercial television network that he had punched a political rival during his time on Liverpool Council, though Latham denied such events happening, calling the claim 'ridiculous, untrue and unbelievable", whilst accusing the Government of running a 'smear campaign'.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2004-07-03 |title=Labor lashes Govt 'smear campaign' |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-07-04/labor-lashes-govt-smear-campaign/2003738 |access-date=2025-09-02 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> On 6 July 2004, he called a press conference and denounced the government for maintaining what he called a "dirt unit," which he said was gathering personal material about him, including details of his first marriage.<ref name=":1" /> The government denied that any such unit existed, but some observers speculated that Liberal Party researchers had accumulated more potentially embarrassing material about Latham, which would be used during the election campaign (a threat which never eventuated), in addition to claims that Latham was an inexperienced economic manager.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2004-07-06 |title=Latham challenges Howard over 'dirt unit' |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-07-06/latham-challenges-howard-over-dirt-unit/2004818 |access-date=2025-09-03 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-07-09 |title=Howard knew about dirt unit: Latham |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/howard-knew-about-dirt-unit-latham-20040709-gdy7yd.html |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref>

Between March and August, both Latham's and Labor's position in the opinion polls gradually declined, with John Howard being the preferred prime minister by 17 points over Latham in July.<ref name=":2" /> During August, Labor claimed a tactical victory over the government on the issue of the [[Australia – United States Free Trade Agreement]] and there were allegations in a Senate inquiry that Howard had lied about the "[[Children Overboard Affair]]" during the [[2001 Australian federal election|2001 election campaign]]. By mid-August, Labor was again ahead in all three national opinion polls.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

=== Electoral defeat and aftermath ===
The election was held on 9 October 2004. Although opinion polls showed the ALP leading the government at various stages of the six-week campaign, the government was re-elected with an increased majority.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Commission |first=Australian Electoral |title=Australian Electoral Commission Virtual Tally Room |url=https://results.aec.gov.au/12246/results/default.htm |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=results.aec.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> This was despite Latham being generally credited with a strong performance and a victory in the sole campaign debate. 

Among those critical of Latham were journalists Tom Allard and Mark Metherell, who said "the flurry of releases meant Mr Latham went off message from Labor's core strengths of health and education."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-10-11 |title=Late release of policy cost Latham the Lodge |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/late-release-of-policy-cost-latham-the-lodge-20041011-gdjwc9.html |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> Labor's party president, [[Carmen Lawrence]], blamed the unexpected severity of the defeat on an effective Coalition "scare campaign" focused on Latham's limited economic management experience.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-10-10 |title=Labor failed to counter scare campaign, Lawrence says |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-10-11/labor-failed-to-counter-scare-campaign-lawrence/566582 |access-date=2025-09-03 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Gartrell also apparently failed to anticipate the interest rates scare campaign.<ref>''Latham Diaries'', pp.&nbsp;336–41, 372</ref> The inability of his campaign to counter the Liberal campaign would later be cited by Latham himself, in the ''Latham Diaries'', as a key reason for the election loss.<ref>''Latham Diaries'', pp.&nbsp;336–41</ref> Latham wrote that he had told his wife Janine that "I've tried to carry the whole show on my shoulders: my family, my community, my party. But now I'm stuffed. I have collapsed under the weight of those fucking ads".<ref>''Latham Diaries'', p.&nbsp;339</ref> Michael Costello, a former chief of staff to Kim Beazley, said: "This is a complete train wreck. We now face at least two terms before we can win government again. We face at least three years with John Howard pretty much in control of the Senate."

On the morning of 8 October, the day before the election, a television crew filmed Latham and Howard shaking hands as they crossed paths outside an [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] radio studio in Sydney. The footage showed Latham appearing to draw Howard towards him and tower over his shorter opponent. The incident received wide media coverage and, while Latham claimed to have been attempting to get revenge for Howard squeezing his wife's hand too hard at a press function, it was variously reported as being "aggressive", "bullying" and "intimidating" on the part of Latham. The Liberal Party campaign director, Brian Loughnane, later said this incident generated more feedback to Liberal headquarters than anything else during the six-week campaign, and that it "brought together all the doubts and hesitations that people had about Mark Latham". Latham disputes the impact of this incident, however, having described it as a "[[Tory]] gee-up: we got close to each other, sure, but otherwise it was a regulation man's handshake. It's silly to say it cost us votes – my numbers spiked in the last night of our polling."<ref>''Latham Diaries'', p.&nbsp;369</ref> According to Latham's account of events, Latham came in close to Howard for the handshake to prevent Howard shaking with his arm rather than his wrist.

Latham became the first Labor opposition leader since [[Frank Tudor]] in 1917 to fail to make a net gain in seats from the government at his first election.<ref>Bob Birrell, Ernest Healy and Lyle Allan (2005), 'Labor's Shrinking Constituency.' in ''People and Place'', Vol. 13, No. 2, Page 50</ref> Some commentators, including Kim Beazley, said Latham's leadership had rescued Labor from a much heavier defeat.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/09/1097261866624.html |title=Risky strategy ends in disaster for Labor |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=10 October 2004 |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023073205/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/09/1097261866624.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Beazley said polling a year before the election indicated the ALP would lose "25–30 seats" in the House of Representatives. Instead the party lost a net four seats in the lower house, a swing of 0.21% and there was a 1.1% swing to the ALP in the Senate.

===Leadership tensions===
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=August 2023}}
Labor's defeat led to media criticisms of Latham's personal style and policy priorities, and also to a crisis in confidence in his leadership within the Labor caucus. Several prominent members of the front-bench, notably [[John Faulkner]], [[Lindsay Tanner]] and [[Bob McMullan]], chose not to recontest front-bench positions. McMullan made it clear he was unhappy with Latham's leadership style and gave an interview suggesting there would be a leadership challenge early in 2005. The national secretary of the [[Australian Workers' Union]], [[Bill Shorten]], was also highly critical of Latham.

In December, after Latham was incorrectly reported to have blamed Labor's state premiers for the defeat, an unnamed Labor frontbencher predicted a leadership challenge within the next few months, saying Latham's supporters had lost confidence in him. Latham also had a heated public confrontation with the Labor deputy leader in the Senate, [[Stephen Conroy]], renewing speculation there would be a challenge to Latham's leadership in the new year.

Latham was helped by the fact that there was no obvious successor to the leadership. The most likely candidates, [[Kevin Rudd]], [[Wayne Swan]] and [[Stephen Smith (Australian politician)|Stephen Smith]], accepted senior positions on Latham's frontbench and pledged loyalty to him. The leaders of the [[Socialist Left (Australia)|Socialist Left]] faction, and the [[Ferguson Left|centre-left]] under [[Martin Ferguson (politician)|Martin Ferguson]] and [[Julia Gillard]], also maintained their support for him. There was little support for a return to Beazley, and neither Tanner nor McMullan were seen as viable leadership candidates. In the longer run, however, many commentators doubted Latham would survive until the 2007 election after such a heavy defeat.

The final crisis for Latham's leadership erupted in the aftermath of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami]]. With both Latham and his deputy leader, [[Jenny Macklin]], on leave, the acting opposition leader, Senator [[Chris Evans (Australian politician)|Chris Evans]], issued statements in the aftermath of the tsunami. Latham was criticised for not issuing a statement as leader personally, particularly at a time when John Howard expressed national sympathy over the disaster, pledged $1 billion in loans to Indonesia and declared a national day of mourning. Latham rejected the criticism of his non-appearance after the tragedy, saying "none of my verbiage could make any practical difference – bring back the dead, reverse the waves, organise the relief effort". Macklin issued a statement on the disaster on 30 December before also choosing to take leave.

Opinion polls in January showed a sharp decline in Latham's support and a preference for the return of Beazley as Labor leader.

===Departure from politics===
On 18 January 2005, citing life-threatening illness and family concerns, Latham announced his resignation from the Labor Party leadership and from Parliament. He strongly criticised the media for invading his family's privacy during his illness.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} Latham had been federal Labor leader for 13 months, the shortest tenure since [[Billy Hughes]] was expelled from the party in 1916. Latham was only the second federal Labor leader, after [[Matthew Charlton]] in 1928, to leave politics without ever having held ministerial office.

Political journalist [[Mungo Wentworth MacCallum|Mungo MacCallum]] wrote: <blockquote>Latham became leader too early in his career, he lacked the skills needed to deal with the webs of intrigue within his own party, he refused to massage the media and the advisers he did listen to were out of their depth against Howard's [[praetorian guard]]. But he had many qualities that were not only desirable and attractive but are in short supply in today's ALP. In other circumstances he could have developed into a formidable leader, even prime minister. As it is, he remains one of the great what-ifs.</blockquote>

==Publications==
Although Latham wrote ''Civilising Global Capital'' while he was an MP, most of his works have been written after his federal parliamentary career.

===''Civilising Global Capital''===
While on the backbench of Parliament in the late 1990s, Latham published ''Civilising Global Capital: New Thinking for Australian Labor'' (Allen and Unwin, 1998), in which he argued that Labor needed to abandon many of its traditional policies and embrace the aspirational values (home ownership, higher education) of the upwardly-mobile skilled working class and small business class. His policies as the leader of the Labor Party were largely derived from the stance taken in this book, which ideologically is described as "[[Third Way (centrism)|the third way]]".

===Biography===
Latham's biography ''Loner: Inside a Labor Tragedy,'' by Bernard Lagan, was launched on 29 June 2005 by Senator [[John Faulkner]], published by Allen & Unwin. The book caused furore within Labor ranks. Most of this was due to material contained within a single email written by Latham in the last page of the book. Of [[Kim Beazley]]'s return to the leadership, Latham said: "Labor got the leader it truly deserves – it is well suited to a conservative stand-for-nothing type of leader." Latham also criticised state Labor premiers [[Bob Carr]], [[Peter Beattie]] and [[Geoff Gallop]], calling them "A-grade arseholes."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/labor-a-party-without-hope-says-latham/2005/06/28/1119724632858.html |title=Labor a party without hope, says Latham |work=The Age |date=28 June 2005 |access-date=30 May 2010 |location=Melbourne |archive-date=23 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123091336/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/labor-a-party-without-hope-says-latham/2005/06/28/1119724632858.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Union leader [[Bill Shorten]] remarked that Latham had displayed "all the attributes of a dog except loyalty."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/latham-fallout-spreads/2005/06/29/1119724694127.html |title=Latham fallout spreads |work=The Age |date=30 June 2005 |access-date=30 May 2010 |first1=Michelle |last1=Grattan |first2=Misha |last2=Schubert |archive-date=7 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607035505/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/latham-fallout-spreads/2005/06/29/1119724694127.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Of his election loss, Latham wrote: <blockquote>I had my shot at being prime minister. It didn't work out on several fronts. But life goes on, potentially in a splendid way, spending so much time with my family. After suffering [[testicular cancer]], the greatest gift in my life has been the ability to have children with Janine. I would be a fool to waste it.</blockquote>

===''The Latham Diaries''===
{{Main|The Latham Diaries}}
Soon after his retirement, Latham announced his decision to publish a selection of diary entries spanning almost a decade. Following a bidding war, it was announced that [[Melbourne University Press]] (MUP) would publish the ''Diaries'' in late September. MUP later awarded the exclusivity rights for extracts to [[News Ltd]] and the exclusivity for the first<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1463685.htm |title=Enough rope with Andrew Denton – episode 95: Mark Latham (19/09/2005) |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=19 September 2005 |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-date=27 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527125638/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1463685.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> interview to the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] television program ''[[Enough Rope]],'' which was due to be broadcast at 9.30&nbsp;pm on Monday 19 September 2005.

Meanwhile, excerpts of the ''Diaries'' were published by ''[[The Australian]]'' from 15 September ahead of their publication in book form on 19 September. The excerpts published include attacks by Latham on the ALP, his successor Kim Beazley, frontbencher Kevin Rudd and former Labor prime ministers Paul Keating and Gough Whitlam.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1460584.htm |title=Labor braces for Latham diary storm. 15/09/2005. ABC News Online |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=15 September 2005 |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-date=6 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906221127/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1460584.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Due to the publicity the ''Diaries'' were now generating, the extensive amount of published extracts, and concerns that Latham had recorded other interviews, in particular with another ABC program, ''[[Lateline]]'', ''[[Enough Rope]]'' pushed to have the interview broadcast four days early on Thursday 15 September at 8.30&nbsp;pm with a simultaneous broadcast on some [[ABC Local Radio|ABC radio]] stations. However, when the time came to broadcast, the ABC announced that the interview would not be shown due to a legal injunction sought by [[News Limited]] (owner of ''[[The Australian]]''), which had the rights to publish extracts from the ''Diaries''. Reports on the night said any broadcast by the ABC was a breach of confidentiality between News and the book's publisher, MUP, the newspaper publisher having signed to an A$80,000 deal to publish excerpts of the book in the weekend newspapers. However, at 10.30&nbsp;pm, the ABC aired the Denton interview after the [[Supreme Court of New South Wales]] lifted the injunction. Justice Harry Palmer said the publication of large parts of the book in News Limited newspapers largely destroyed the value of the material. Due to the last-minute changes, the edition of ABC's ''[[Lateline]]'' program scheduled for 10.30&nbsp;pm featuring another interview with Latham (also subject to the short-lived injunction) was aired the following night.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1463149.htm |title=Mediawatch: Latham strikes! (again) (19/09/2005) |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=19 September 2005 |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-date=26 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426001653/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s1463149.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The ''Diaries'' represent a remarkable and unprecedented statement by a former leader of a major political party. In the book, Latham is scathing about Australia's political system: <blockquote>It takes committed people ... and turns them into one-dimensional robots ... The only good news is that the public is on to them. The electorate has worked out the artificiality of it all. They can see through the spin doctors, the publicity stunts, the polling and the tricks of marginal-seat campaigning. This is why people now talk about politics with a cool anger. They have a clear feeling that the system is far from genuine. That the robots, in fact, are tin men.<ref>''The Latham Diaries'', Melbourne University Press, 2005, pp 92–93.</ref></blockquote>

===''A Conga Line of Suckholes''===
Latham's seventh book, a collection of quotations titled ''A Conga Line of Suckholes'', was released by [[Melbourne University Publishing]] in late September 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mup.unimelb.edu.au/catalogue/0-522-85305-6.html |title=A Conga Line of Suckholes |publisher=Mup.unimelb.edu.au |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721003616/http://www.mup.unimelb.edu.au/catalogue/0-522-85305-6.html |archive-date=21 July 2008 }}</ref>

==="No Exit The ALP"===
In November 2010, Latham contributed an essay in ''[[The Monthly]]'' titled "No Exit The ALP".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themonthly.com.au/monthly-essays-mark-latham-no-exit-alp-2858|title=No Exit The ALP|work=[[The Monthly]]|date=November 2010|publisher=news.com.au|access-date=8 January 2011|archive-date=11 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111143942/http://www.themonthly.com.au/monthly-essays-mark-latham-no-exit-alp-2858|url-status=live}}</ref> In it, Latham again criticised the ALP, writing that "for all the heightened rhetoric, for the seemingly endless creation of summits, committees and policy review processes, the lasting impression from the Rudd years is one of emptiness". He also remarked that "Without a guiding philosophy of politics, Rudd's prime ministership was an exercise in populism. He avoided tough decisions and mastered the art of media manipulation as a way of extending his honeymoon". Latham concludes that Labor had "lost its way". His suggested solution is that Labor again champions great causes, writing that:

<blockquote>Having studied the literature and, at one time, been part of these debates, I can identify just three credible ideas that have been advanced for the renewal of the social democratic project. Each seeks to move beyond economic issues, beyond the material realm of politics, to stake out new ground. The first tries to reclaim social capital, the rebuilding of mutualism and community, as a Labor icon. The second positions Labor as an anti-establishment party, breaking down the entrenched centres of power in society. The third champions a crusade on climate change, an uncompromising attempt to roll back the materialism of western society in favour of environmental values.</blockquote>

Latham finishes his essay by writing about the difficulties of each approach.

=== Other publications ===
Mark Latham also wrote ''Reviving Labor's agenda: a program for local reform'' (Pluto Press / Australian Fabian Society, 1990), ''What did you learn today?: creating an education revolution'' (Allen & Unwin, 2001), ''From the Suburbs: Building a Nation from our Neighbourhoods'' (Pluto Press Australia, 2003), ''The Political Bubble: Why Australians Don't Trust Politics'' (Pan Macmillan, 2014), ''Latham at Large'' (Melbourne University Press, 2015), and ''Taking Back Australia: Saving Our Country, Our Culture, Our Civilisation'' (Wilkinson Publishing, 2018).

He also wrote a weekly column for the Spectator magazine (Australian edition) entitled "Latham's Law".

==Post-political life==

===Melbourne University Lecture===
Latham gave his first public lecture since the release of the ''Diaries'', titled "Ten Reasons Why Young Idealistic People Should Forget About Organised Politics", on 27 September 2005, at [[Melbourne University]]. During the lecture, he argued that organised politics is ineffective at achieving real social change, due to public apathy, the rise of conservatism and the inward-focused structure of the major parties, and instead encouraged youth to focus on more grassroots, community-based programs. He also claimed politics has a detrimental impact on health, happiness and family life, largely blaming the "arrogant" and "incompetent" media, as well as internal party struggles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mup.unimelb.edu.au/publicity/lathamlecture.html |title=Mark Latham – Public Lecture |publisher=Mup.unimelb.edu.au |access-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904064132/http://www.mup.unimelb.edu.au/publicity/lathamlecture.html |archive-date= 4 September 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unimelb.edu.au/speeches/transcripts/78latham20050927.doc |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331235827/http://www.unimelb.edu.au/speeches/transcripts/78latham20050927.doc |archive-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>

===Incident at Hungry Jack's===
On 19 January 2006, Latham was eating with his two sons at a [[Hungry Jack's]] restaurant in [[Campbelltown, New South Wales]] when he was photographed by Ross Schultz, a photographer from ''[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]''. Latham snatched the camera and smashed it, without destroying the electronic media that contained the photographs. The ''Telegraph'' subsequently announced plans for upcoming publication of the photographic images in the following Saturday's edition and that it would be seeking $12,000 from Latham to replace the equipment.<ref name="Latham clashes with TV crew | NEWS">{{Cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17879894-2,00.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060309114020/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C10117%2C17879894-2%2C00.html|url-status=dead|title=Latham clashes with TV crew &#124; NEWS.com.au|archivedate=9 March 2006}}</ref> The following day, Latham appeared to drive towards a [[Seven Network|Channel 7]] television cameraman at his Sydney home. The photographer was unhurt but Seven's head of news in Sydney, Chris Willis, said the footage clearly showed Latham's car veer toward the cameraman as he stood on the side of the road.<ref name="Latham clashes with TV crew | NEWS"/> In February 2006, Latham was charged with assault, malicious damage and theft in relation to the incident. Latham did not appear in Campbelltown Local Court to face the charges, on 22 March, instead giving a lecture to political science students at the [[Australian National University]]. When asked by a student how he could blame everyone else but himself, Latham replied: "I'm sorry I didn't come in here and expose myself as a miserable arsewipe."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/latham-assault-case-adjourned/2006/03/22/1142703432720.html |title=Latham assault case adjourned – National – |work=The Age |date=22 March 2006 |access-date=30 May 2010 |location=Melbourne |archive-date=17 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517012725/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/latham-assault-case-adjourned/2006/03/22/1142703432720.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 26 April, ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' reported that Latham again chose not to appear in Campbelltown Local Court in relation to the 19 January incident. The case was adjourned to 24 May.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/latham-a-no-show-at-assault-hearing/2006/04/26/1145861387590.html |title=Latham a no show at assault hearing – National – |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=26 April 2006 |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023234955/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/latham-a-no-show-at-assault-hearing/2006/04/26/1145861387590.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 6 June, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' reported that Latham escaped having a criminal conviction for malicious damage to the camera being used by Schultz recorded against him, but had been placed on a good behaviour bond for two years. After pleading guilty to malicious damage, he had the charges of assault and theft dropped.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/latham-escapes-criminal-conviction/2006/06/06/1149359717691.html |title=Latham escapes criminal conviction – National – |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=6 June 2006 |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023235008/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/latham-escapes-criminal-conviction/2006/06/06/1149359717691.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also required to pay $6,763.70 in compensation for the damaged camera.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19381271-29277,00.html |title=Latham put on two-year bond |publisher=NEWS.com.au |date=6 June 2006 |access-date=5 January 2018 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070728091913/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19381271-29277,00.html |archive-date=28 July 2007}}</ref>

''[[The Sun-Herald|The Sun Herald]]'' reported on 13 August 2006 that the family were moving from their [[Glen Alpine, New South Wales|Glen Alpine]] home to a property at [[Mount Hunter, New South Wales|Mount Hunter]], near [[Camden, New South Wales|Camden]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/08/12/1154803143129.html |title=Latham flees suburbia – National – |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=13 August 2006 |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023235021/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/08/12/1154803143129.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2007 federal election===
He commented on the [[2007 Australian federal election|2007 federal election]] campaign with an article in the ''[[Australian Financial Review]]'', in which he said Australia was having a "[[Seinfeld]] election, a show about nothing". Latham wrote that, no matter which party won, Australia would have a conservative economic policy and an industrial relations system which was decentralised and productivity-based. He stated that Australian public life had reached the "zenith of policy convergence", and that "Many people in the Labor movement are expecting Labor in power to be far more progressive than its stated election promises. I expect a Labor administration to be even more timid, more conservative".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/federal-election-2007-news/labor-holds-big-lead-in-online-poll/2007/11/09/1194329514605.html |title=Labor holds big lead in online poll – Federal Election 2007 News – |work=The Age |date=10 November 2007 |access-date=30 May 2010 |location=Melbourne |first1=Michelle |last1=Grattan |first2=Misha |last2=Schubert |archive-date=24 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724002241/http://www.theage.com.au/news/federal-election-2007-news/labor-holds-big-lead-in-online-poll/2007/11/09/1194329514605.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2010 federal election===
In 2010, Latham was a guest reporter for television show [[60 Minutes (Australian TV program)|''60 Minutes'']], where he reported on the federal election campaign. It was here that during a report he confronted [[Julia Gillard]]. Latham pushed his way through the crowd and confronted Gillard and her partner, Tim Mathieson, saying: "I understand you have made a complaint about me working for Channel 9".<ref name="Sunday Times-2010">{{cite news|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/stalking-reporter-mark-latham-confronts-julia-gillard/story-e6frg12c-1225902497295|title=Stalking 'reporter' Mark Latham confronts Julia Gillard|work=The Sunday Times|date=7 August 2010|access-date=3 January 2011|archive-date=3 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603145950/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/stalking-reporter-mark-latham-confronts-julia-gillard/story-e6frg12c-1225902497295|url-status=live}}</ref> Gillard replied "I don't know anything about that, Mark. If you want to work with Channel 9, that's a matter for you", before Latham suggested that [[Kevin Rudd]] had been behind the leaks against her during the campaign.<ref name="Sunday Times-2010"/>

During the campaign, Latham attacked Gillard's stance on population growth as "a fraud", arguing that the Gillard government would have to reduce immigration levels if it was serious about easing population pressures in Australia's capital cities.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/gillard-a-fraud-on-population-latham-20100722-10lfe.html |title=Gillard a fraud on population: Latham |author=Michelle Grattan |date=22 July 2010 |work=The Age |location=Melbourne |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-date=27 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027144637/http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/gillard-a-fraud-on-population-latham-20100722-10lfe.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

He also caused a stir when, on ''60 Minutes'', he urged voters to issue a protest vote by leaving the ballot paper blank on election day: <blockquote>They say that voting in Australia is compulsory, but it's not compulsory to fill out the ballot paper. You can put it in the ballot box, totally blank. That's what I'll be doing on Saturday and I urge you to do the same. It's the ultimate protest vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/lathams-lash-at-leaders-airs-on-nine-20100815-1255r.html |title=Latham's lash at leaders airs on Nine |author=Jamie Duncan |date=15 August 2010 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=20 September 2010 |archive-date=18 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818071936/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/lathams-lash-at-leaders-airs-on-nine-20100815-1255r.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/stories/7944020/latham-at-large |title=Story transcripts: Latham at Large |date=12 August 2010 |publisher=sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306032335/http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/stories/7944020/latham-at-large |archive-date=6 March 2012 }}</ref> </blockquote>Following that interview, he continued to attack Gillard as well as journalist [[Laurie Oakes]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/mark-latham-comes-out-swinging-at-veteran-journalist-laurie-oakes/story-e6frfllr-1225903210311 |title=Mark Latham comes out swinging at veteran journalist Laurie Oakes |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=10 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017154646/http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/mark-latham-comes-out-swinging-at-veteran-journalist-laurie-oakes/story-e6frfllr-1225903210311 |archive-date=17 October 2010}}</ref>

===2013 federal election===
On 14 August 2013, during the election federal campaign, Latham was interviewed by the [[3AW]] radio station in Melbourne. He caused controversy when asked to comment on Liberal Party leader [[Tony Abbott]]'s characterisation of [[Fiona Scott]], the Liberal candidate for [[Division of Lindsay|Lindsay]], as having "sex appeal". Latham responded: <blockquote>It showed very bad judgment, it showed that he's got low standards. I've had a good look at Fiona Scott [...] and I don't think she's got sex appeal at all. [... Abbott] must have had the beer goggles on because she's not that good of a sort, and I'd rather have an aspirant for the prime ministership who's a good judge when it comes to checking out the good sorts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/mark-latham-gaffe-over-tony-abbott-sex-appeal-comment-20130814-2rx8e.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Mark Latham gaffe over Tony Abbott sex appeal comment | access-date=20 February 2020 | archive-date=24 May 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524141952/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/mark-latham-gaffe-over-tony-abbott-sex-appeal-comment-20130814-2rx8e.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/06/tony-abbott-gift-of-gaffe|title=Gift of the gaffe makes Tony Abbott the star of a blunderful campaign|first=Helen|last=Davidson|date=5 September 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 December 2016|archive-date=22 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122155915/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/06/tony-abbott-gift-of-gaffe|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/world-news/asia-pacific/gaffes-galore-on-aussie-campaign-trail-29560480.html | work=Irish Independent | title=Gaffes galore on Aussie campaign trail | date=7 September 2013 | access-date=9 September 2013 | archive-date=4 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904194219/http://www.independent.ie/world-news/asia-pacific/gaffes-galore-on-aussie-campaign-trail-29560480.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10291389/Australian-elections-top-gaffes-no-one-can-be-the-suppository-of-all-wisdom.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Jonathan | last=Pearlman | title=Australian election's top gaffes: 'no one can be the suppository of all wisdom' | date=6 September 2013 | access-date=3 April 2018 | archive-date=6 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106141203/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10291389/Australian-elections-top-gaffes-no-one-can-be-the-suppository-of-all-wisdom.html | url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

===Controversy at the ''Australian Financial Review'' and Triple M===
In August 2015, Latham resigned from his regular column after spending eight years with the ''[[Australian Financial Review]]''.<ref name="ABC News-2015">{{cite web|title=Mark Latham resigns as columnist for Australian Financial Review|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-17/mark-latham-resigns-as-columnist-for-australian-financial-review/6703550|website=ABC News|date=17 August 2015|access-date=18 August 2015|archive-date=17 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817202117/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-17/mark-latham-resigns-as-columnist-for-australian-financial-review/6703550|url-status=live}}</ref> His resignation was linked to a series of articles critical of Australian of the Year [[Rosie Batty]] and also Group Captain [[Catherine McGregor]].<ref name="ABC News-2015"/>

In January 2016, further controversy erupted over Latham's radio podcast on [[Triple M]] with comments that he paraphrased from a government report saying "men who have lost their self esteem" turn to domestic violence "as a coping mechanism."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-22/mark-latham-under-fire-for-triple-m-podcast-domestic-violence/7107650|title=Calls for Latham's sacking after 'disgraceful podcast' about domestic violence|newspaper=ABC News|date=22 January 2016|access-date=23 January 2016|archive-date=22 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122232752/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-22/mark-latham-under-fire-for-triple-m-podcast-domestic-violence/7107650|url-status=live}}</ref> Latham referred to Batty (whose son was murdered by his father) as "exploiting her personal tragedy" and "doing more harm than good" by publicising domestic violence against women and children as an epidemic  "when the official reports show it at one percent."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/radio/why-we-cant-and-shouldnt-look-away-from-the-damage-mark-latham-is-doing-20160122-gmc867.html |title=Why we can't and shouldn't look away from the damage Mark Latham is doing |work=The Age |date=22 January 2016 |access-date=2 July 2017 |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123212820/http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/radio/why-we-cant-and-shouldnt-look-away-from-the-damage-mark-latham-is-doing-20160122-gmc867.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Batty responded that she hoped "someone like Mark is able to become more informed and (is) not stuck in the, I guess, ignorant position because that type of thinking went out several decades ago...there are still some people unfortunately very influenced and stuck in those (mindsets)."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/rosie-batty-responds-to-mark-lathams-comments-about-domestic-violence/news-story/f6c3706110561de4f5c25acce26ec79d|title=Rosie Batty responds to Mark Latham's comments about domestic violence|date=25 January 2016|website=[[News.com.au]]|access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225080357/https://www.news.com.au/national/rosie-batty-responds-to-mark-lathams-comments-about-domestic-violence/news-story/f6c3706110561de4f5c25acce26ec79d|url-status=live}}</ref>

Triple M is a supporter of [[White Ribbon Campaign]], a charity which is led by men to raise awareness of domestic violence caused by men. Since Latham's podcast was broadcast, there have been widespread calls for White Ribbon to distance itself from Triple M and Latham.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/radio/mark-latham-attacks-rosie-batty-in-first-podcast-for-triple-m-on-new-segment-called-lathamland/news-story/2043ea01d7eb5958c45b734c2a5240d6|title=Mark Latham attacks Rosie Batty in first podcast for Triple M on new segment called 'Lathamland'|date=22 January 2016|website=News.com.au|access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418041848/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/radio/mark-latham-attacks-rosie-batty-in-first-podcast-for-triple-m-on-new-segment-called-lathamland/news-story/2043ea01d7eb5958c45b734c2a5240d6|url-status=live}}</ref> The chair of White Ribbon, John Rosewarn, responded that "Mark Latham's views on domestic violence, as aired by Triple M, show his lack of understanding and knowledge of this complex issue, including its prevalence, causes and community response."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/update/mark-latham-s-podcast-on-triple-m-about-domestic-violence |title=Statement: Mark Latham's Podcast on Triple M |publisher=White Ribbon White Ribbon |date=22 January 2016 |access-date=2 July 2017 |archive-date=31 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131104122/http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/update/mark-latham-s-podcast-on-triple-m-about-domestic-violence |url-status=live }}</ref> White Ribbon also tweeted: "Domestic violence is much more than physical violence; it's never a coping mechanism."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/mark-latham-blasted-by-white-ribbon-over-domestic-violence-comments-20160122-gmbsyc.html|title=Mark Latham and Triple blasted for calling domestic violence a 'coping mechanism'|first=Ebony|last=Bowden|date=22 January 2016|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-date=22 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122212222/http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/mark-latham-blasted-by-white-ribbon-over-domestic-violence-comments-20160122-gmbsyc.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2016 US presidential election===
During the [[2016 United States presidential election]], Latham announced his support for Republican candidate [[Donald Trump]], stating "Donald is by no means perfect but I much prefer his approach to the lying snakes of machine politics and media manipulation" and praised Trump's pledge to dismantle the Obama administration's deals with Iran.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/29/donald-trump-wins-backing-of-former-australian-labor-leader-mark-latham|title=Donald Trump wins backing of former Australian Labor leader Mark Latham|date=29 March 2016|website=The Guardian|access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=6 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106233916/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/29/donald-trump-wins-backing-of-former-australian-labor-leader-mark-latham|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Commentator===
[[File:Mark Latham - Church And State Summit 2018 02.jpg|thumb|right|Latham at the 2018 Church and State Summit]]
After leaving federal politics, Latham worked as a journalist and political and social commentator, appearing on numerous panel programs including ''Sunrise'' on the Seven Network and ''The Verdict'' on the Nine Network. In 2016, Latham became co-host of [[Sky News Live]] programs ''[[Jones + Co]]'' and in 2017 co-host of ''[[Outsiders (Australian TV program)|Outsiders]]''.<ref name="Knox-2016"/>

In a March edition of ''Outsiders'', Latham criticised a lack of diversity among corporate diversity officers and included Sky News colleague [[Peter van Onselen]]'s wife as an example. Van Onselen and his ''[[To The Point (TV program)|To The Point]]'' co-host [[Kristina Keneally]] criticised Latham for the segment. Latham responded by criticising both, including statements implying Keneally acted corruptly in her former position as [[Premier of New South Wales]].<ref name="Media Watch-2017">[http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4647549.htm Media Watch: EPISODE 09, 3 APRIL 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404220812/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4647549.htm |date=4 April 2017 }}; Australian Broadcasting Corporation; 3 April 2017</ref> Keneally threatened to take defamation action and made a formal complaint to Sky News management.<ref name="Media Watch-2017"/> In a separate incident, [[ABC Radio Sydney]] presenter [[Wendy Harmer]] threatened legal action after Latham made numerous statements criticising her, including the claim Harmer was only employed by the ABC because she is a female with a disability. Consequently, Sky News released a public statement rejecting Latham's "comments in their entirety" and apologised "unreservedly" to both Harmer and Keneally.<ref>[https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/sky-news-apologises-to-wendy-harmer-kristina-keneally-for-mark-latham-claims-20170330-gvaa8f.html Sky News apologises to Wendy Harmer, Kristina Keneally for Mark Latham claims]; ''The Sydney Morning Herald''; 30 March 2017;</ref>

A third controversy related to Latham questioning the sexuality of a school student during an ''Outsiders'' segment criticising a video put out by [[Sydney Boys High School]] in support of [[International Women's Day]] and suggested he "thought that first guy was gay", referring to a student in the video.<ref name="Media Watch-2017"/> Latham was fired from Sky News on 29 March 2017 after the story was published.<ref name="Meade-2017"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mark-latham-sacked-by-sky-news-after-calling-school-student-gay-20170329-gv98rc.html|title=Mark Latham sacked by Sky News after calling school student 'gay'|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=29 March 2017|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-date=29 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129085948/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mark-latham-sacked-by-sky-news-after-calling-school-student-gay-20170329-gv98rc.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latham later defended himself saying that a lot of journalists who discussed the comments had not seen the show: <blockquote>That video was put out there to deliberately confuse people, because the young people were using the words of women and the first fellow up was talking about sex with a man - so it became clear later on what the sort of trick was, but they put it up there for public discussion, we had a discussion about it on the show. No offence was meant, none should have been taken. It really is appalling that people who complained about nothing at the time all of a sudden get worked up later on...<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.2gb.com/podcast/mark-latham-the-outsider-9/ |title=Ben Fordham: Sydney Live |publisher=2gb.com |date=2017-04-04 |access-date=2017-07-02 |archive-date=5 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405165854/http://www.2gb.com/podcast/mark-latham-the-outsider-9/ |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

In April 2017, Latham launched a website called Mark Latham's Outsiders and hosted a weekly [[Facebook Live]] program. Despite sharing the same name, it is unrelated to the Sky News program ''Outsiders'' which has continued without him as host.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/mark-latham-goes-online-with-outsiders-facebook-page/news-story/e51bf0c4eeec40e70c848e6dee491234|title=Mark Latham goes online with Outsiders Facebook page|date=4 April 2017|access-date=26 April 2017|work=News Corp Australia|archive-date=26 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426151256/http://www.news.com.au/national/mark-latham-goes-online-with-outsiders-facebook-page/news-story/e51bf0c4eeec40e70c848e6dee491234|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the same month, Latham created a video titled ''What's Gone Wrong With Australian Multiculturalism: Ethnic Enclaves in Fairfield'', where he was subsequently criticised by the leaders of [[Fairfield, New South Wales|Fairfield]] for describing the deficiency of English in the area as "disgraceful". In the video, he tried to interview the residents of Fairfield, most of whom refused to speak due to a [[language barrier]]. Also in the video, Latham postulated that the [[ethnic enclave]] in Fairfield and [[Cabramatta]] signaled multiculturalism was failing as the [[West Asian people|West Asian]]-descent people in Fairfield did not want to visit Cabramatta, a suburb with a large [[East Asian people|East Asian population]]. [[Assyrian Australians|Assyrian]] Resource Centre manager Carmen Lazar rebutted Latham, saying many programs in Fairfield aid [[Asylum in Australia|refugees]] to learn English, such as [[Navitas Limited]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/former-opposition-leader-mark-latham-slammed-for-comments-on-multiculturalism-in-fairfield-35197213.html|title="It's a disgrace": Mark Latham's take on multiculturalism in Fairfield|work=[[Yahoo News]]|date=28 April 2017|access-date=19 January 2023|archive-date=19 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119073413/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/former-opposition-leader-mark-latham-slammed-for-comments-on-multiculturalism-in-fairfield-35197213.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latham previously said he was a supporter of same-sex marriage. However, in 2017 during the [[Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey]] he endorsed the 'no' vote, saying that a 'yes' vote "will open a can of worms".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnews%2Fopinion%2Fmark-latham-samesex-yes-vote-will-open-a-can-of-worms%2Fnews-story%2F248eb22253826ed116f51eb08c353a48&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=00199c84d7fed0c5f6695ae0049d9c5e-1613886424|title=Dailytelegraph.com.au &#124; Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories|website=www.dailytelegraph.com.au}}</ref>

==Return to politics==
===Liberal Democrats (2017–2018)===
In May 2017, Latham announced via his Facebook page that he would be joining the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Liberal Democrats]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Latham joins 'party of freedom' Liberal Democrats|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-08/mark-latham-joins-liberal-democratic-party/8507842|access-date=8 May 2017|work=ABC News|date=8 May 2017|language=en-AU|archive-date=8 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508082457/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-08/mark-latham-joins-liberal-democratic-party/8507842|url-status=live}}</ref> a libertarian party. The [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] responded by placing a life ban on Latham from ever re-joining the party, after a motion was passed by the [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|New South Wales branch of the Labor Party]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Joe|title=Mark Latham gets lifetime Labor ban|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/mark-latham-gets-lifetime-ban-from-alp-after-joining-liberal-democrats/news-story/44f183331720ece20744ee064f3bed01|access-date=22 June 2017|work=[[The Australian]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]|date=9 May 2017}}</ref> According to Latham, he had terminated his ALP membership in March 2017 after being refused permission to address a party gathering.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/macarthur/mark-latham-defends-decision-to-leave-labor-party-and-join-liberal-democrats/news-story/2619d6647d5e9366fa8454093d83c9aa|title=Mark Latham defends decision to leave Labor Party and join Liberal Democrats|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 May 2017|access-date=23 February 2019|first=Luisa|last=Cogno|archive-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024221842/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/macarthur/mark-latham-defends-decision-to-leave-labor-party-and-join-liberal-democrats/news-story/2619d6647d5e9366fa8454093d83c9aa|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2018, Latham launched a Save Australia Day campaign with help from Aboriginal politician [[Jacinta Price]] in response to the #ChangeTheDate social media campaign which called for the date of [[Australia Day]] to be moved or for the holiday to be abolished entirely. Latham argued "Changing the date will not change the circumstances of any disadvantaged Indigenous people" and "if the Left succeeds in moving or abolishing Australia Day, there is nothing about Australia that will be safe into the future".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.camdenadvertiser.com.au/story/5162089/mark-latham-launches-save-the-date-campaign/|title=Mark Latham launches 'Save the Date' campaign|first=Kayla|last=Osborne|date=11 January 2018|website=Camden-Narellan Advertiser|access-date=19 January 2021|archive-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111025740/http://www.camdenadvertiser.com.au/story/5162089/mark-latham-launches-save-the-date-campaign/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/mark-latham-saves-australia-day/news-story/2d5e345efa5f2d04c3b591fb9ec4e921|title=Mark Latham Saves Australia Day|first=Andrew|last=Bolt|date=7 December 2017|website=Herald Sun (Melbourne)|access-date=19 January 2021|archive-date=14 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514163352/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/mark-latham-saves-australia-day/news-story/2d5e345efa5f2d04c3b591fb9ec4e921|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latham announced that he was open to running as a candidate for the Liberal Democrats in future elections.<ref>{{cite web |author=Malcolm Farr |url=http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/mark-latham-joins-david-leyonhjelm-to-represent-the-liberal-democrats/news-story/e86297ec484986d77d0954162e2569cf |title=Mark Latham joins Liberal Democrats political party in shock move |publisher=News.com.au |date=9 May 2017 |access-date=2 July 2017 |archive-date=9 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509085526/http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/mark-latham-joins-david-leyonhjelm-to-represent-the-liberal-democrats/news-story/e86297ec484986d77d0954162e2569cf |url-status=live }}</ref> However, he was blocked by the party executive from running as a candidate and, as a result, resigned his party membership in September 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/former-labor-leader-mark-latham-joins-pauline-hansons-one-nation-party-in-nsw/news-story/7a68550669cd4edd823146e10f9708c4 |title=Former Labor leader Mark Latham joins Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party in NSW |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=6 November 2018 |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref>

===One Nation (2018–2023)===
In November 2018, Latham announced that he had joined [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation|One Nation]] as the party's state leader in New South Wales, and would stand for the [[New South Wales Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] at the [[2019 New South Wales state election|2019 state election]]. In response, [[Luke Foley]], the state ALP leader, ruled out recommending preferences to One Nation candidates.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Latham to stand as One Nation candidate for NSW upper house |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/06/mark-latham-reportedly-to-join-pauline-hansons-one-nation |access-date=6 November 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=6 November 2018 |language=en |archive-date=6 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106081914/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/06/mark-latham-reportedly-to-join-pauline-hansons-one-nation |url-status=live }}</ref> Latham ran on a platform which opposed immigration, congestion, overdevelopment and renewable power, and proposed DNA tests for Aboriginal welfare recipients<ref name="ABC News-2019">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-23/mark-latham-wins-nsw-upper-house-seat/10923460|title=NSW election win likely for Mark Latham in Upper House seat for One Nation|work=ABC News|date=23 March 2019|access-date=23 March 2019|archive-date=23 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323122428/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-23/mark-latham-wins-nsw-upper-house-seat/10923460|url-status=live}}</ref> and banning the [[burqa]] in government buildings, banks, and airports.<ref name="Starts at 60-2019">{{cite news |url=https://startsat60.com/discover/news/politics/one-nation-mark-latham-burqa-ban-sydney-government-buildings |title='Ban sexist burqa in government buildings, banks and airports' says Latham |work=Starts at 60 |date=29 January 2019 |access-date=7 February 2019 |archive-date=3 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203105301/https://startsat60.com/discover/news/politics/one-nation-mark-latham-burqa-ban-sydney-government-buildings |url-status=live }}</ref> Latham supported a travel ban on certain Islamic countries, saying, "If you know that there's a country that's producing a lot of troublemakers, would-be terrorists, radical jihadists coming to Australia, what sort of sane nation would say, 'Bring 'em in!' If you know there's a nation that's no good for us, then turn off the tap."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.2gb.com/turn-off-the-tap-one-nation-move-to-enforce-travel-ban-on-certain-islamic-countries/|title='Turn off the tap': One Nation move to enforce travel ban on certain Islamic countries|date=12 February 2019|access-date=16 February 2019|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629045128/https://www.2gb.com/turn-off-the-tap-one-nation-move-to-enforce-travel-ban-on-certain-islamic-countries/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latham was successful in his bid to return to parliament, winning an eight-year term in the Legislative Council alongside [[Rod Roberts (Australian politician)|Rod Roberts]].<ref name="ABC News-2019"/><ref name="Members of the Parliament of New South Wales-2023">{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=2251 |name=The Hon. Mark LATHAM, MLC |former= |access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref> Latham's maiden speech to the state parliament focused on criticising "leftist elites", maintaining the values of Western civilisation, the importance of education and the right to freedom of speech, as exemplified in the recent [[Israel Folau]] controversy.<ref>{{cite news |title=I stand with Israel Folau: Mark Latham |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/i-stand-with-israel-folau-mark-latham |access-date=8 May 2019 |work=SBS News |language=en |archive-date=8 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508103241/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/i-stand-with-israel-folau-mark-latham |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, Latham was a keynote speaker at the inaugural [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) in Australia, alongside former prime minister [[Tony Abbott]] and British politician [[Nigel Farage]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/01/us-backers-of-rightwing-australian-conference-say-cpac-event-wont-be-one-off|title=US backers of rightwing Australian conference say CPAC event won't be one-off|date=1 August 2019|website=The Guardian|access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118092754/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/01/us-backers-of-rightwing-australian-conference-say-cpac-event-wont-be-one-off|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2020, Latham has promoted a bill titled "Parental Rights" which seeks to prohibit teachers from discussing "the ideology of gender fluidity to children in schools".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/16/targeted-discrimination-nsw-government-rejects-mark-lathams-trans-bill | title='Targeted discrimination': NSW government rejects Mark Latham's trans bill | website=[[TheGuardian.com]] | date=16 March 2022 | access-date=13 April 2022 | archive-date=12 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412195113/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/16/targeted-discrimination-nsw-government-rejects-mark-lathams-trans-bill | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/bill/files/3776/First%20Print.pdf| title=Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill 2020| access-date=13 April 2022| archive-date=11 March 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311062444/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/bill/files/3776/First%20Print.pdf| url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2021, Latham moved a motion to pull [[Bruce Pascoe]]'s book ''[[Dark Emu]]'' from the New South Wales school curriculum. One Nation, Fred Nile and the [[Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party]] voted for it, while the Liberal Party, the National Party, Labor and the Greens voted down the motion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/nsw-to-allow-debunked-dark-emu-to-remain-in-schools-liberals-dont-believe-in-banning-books/news-story/37758d6e05d76e7e247850b4563e254f | title=NSW to allow 'debunked' history book Dark Emu to remain in schools | website=news.com.au | date=24 June 2021 | access-date=17 January 2022 | archive-date=18 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118185544/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/nsw-to-allow-debunked-dark-emu-to-remain-in-schools-liberals-dont-believe-in-banning-books/news-story/37758d6e05d76e7e247850b4563e254f | url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2022, Latham announced his plan to quit the Legislative Council just before the [[2023 New South Wales state election]] and to run again on the top of the One Nation ticket. The plan was designed to increase the numbers of One Nation in the Legislative Council from two to four after the election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Alexandra |title=Latham plans to quit Parliament and run again atop One Nation ticket |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/latham-plans-to-quit-parliament-and-run-again-atop-one-nation-ticket-20221011-p5bou5.html |access-date=13 October 2022 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Nine Entertainment|Nine Publishing]] |date=12 October 2022 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013063135/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/latham-plans-to-quit-parliament-and-run-again-atop-one-nation-ticket-20221011-p5bou5.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He resigned from the Legislative Council on 2 March 2023<ref name="Members of the Parliament of New South Wales-2023"/> and was re-elected 23 days later.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2023 |title=All Members of the Legislative Council |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/pages/all-members.aspx?house=LC |website=All Members}}</ref> His seat was filled by [[Tania Mihailuk]].

Following an intervention from the federal branch of [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation|One Nation]], Latham was removed from the position of state leader of [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation – New South Wales|One Nation in New South Wales]]. Hanson cited the party's worse than expected 14% drop in vote at the [[2023 New South Wales state election|New South Wales state election in March]]. No member has replaced Latham as leader of the [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation – New South Wales|NSW One Nation branch]].<ref name="Roe-2023"/> Latham denounced this decision, declaring that Hanson should "buy a mirror" as her own vote share had decreased at the previous federal election, and that she had stacked the NSW state executive with interstate residents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/mark-latham-hits-out-after-being-dumped-as-nsw-one-nation-leader/te6ruvgof|title=Mark Latham hits out after being axed: 'Pauline Hanson should buy a mirror'|website=SBS|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=14 August 2023|accessdate=16 August 2023}}</ref> Latham's colleagues split over the issue; Roberts supported his position by denouncing several members of the new executive as unqualified, while Mihaluk remained silent and was seen as being supportive of Hanson's decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/one-nation-mps-divided-over-loyalties-after-latham-dumped-as-leader-20230815-p5dwqr.html|title=One Nation MPs divided over loyalties after Latham dumped as leader|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|last1=Maddison|first1=Max|last2=Smith|first2=Alexandra|date=15 August 2023|accessdate=16 August 2023}}</ref> On 22 August 2023, Latham and Roberts resigned from One Nation to sit as independents.<ref name="Maddison-2023"/>

===Alex Greenwich controversy===
Following the [[2023 New South Wales state election]], [[Alex Greenwich]], who is openly gay, called Latham "a disgusting human being", in response to pro-LGBT protesters being attacked outside a church Latham was delivering a speech in, regarding "religious freedom, parental rights, school education and protecting [non-government] schools from Alphabet Activism".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ireland |first=Olivia |date=22 March 2023 |title=Video shows LGBTQ protesters pleading for help outside Mark Latham event |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/two-arrested-after-hundreds-turn-on-lgbtq-protesters-outside-mark-latham-event-20230322-p5cu6b.html |access-date=14 September 2024 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> In reply, Latham wrote a tweet saying that anal sex between men was "disgusting", in terms that were universally reviled as offensive and inflammatory, even by his own lawyers in court, who stated that although the tweet was "offensive and crass and vulgar", it was not defamatory.<ref name="Rose-2024">{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Tamsin |date=10 September 2024 |title=Alex Greenwich wins defamation case against Mark Latham, hopes it will end 'Trump-style attacks' in politics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/sep/11/alex-greenwich-wins-defamation-case-against-mark-latham-over-2023-tweet |access-date=14 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Shibu |date=30 March 2023 |title=Mark Latham Targets Out Gay Sydney MP Alex Greenwich With Vile Homophobic Slur |url=https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/mark-latham-targets-out-gay-sydney-mp-alex-greenwich-with-vile-homophobic-slur/222863 |access-date=31 March 2023 |website=Star Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330110610/https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/mark-latham-targets-out-gay-sydney-mp-alex-greenwich-with-vile-homophobic-slur/222863 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Sharma | first=Yashee | title=Pauline Hanson demands Mark Latham apologise for 'disgusting' tweet | website=Sky News Australia | date=30 March 2023 |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/one-nation-leader-pauline-hanson-demands-nsw-leader-mark-latham-apologise-for-disgusting-homophobic-social-media-post/news-story/316d75cfd8c6c40b7cd388eda49e7461 | access-date=30 March 2023 | archive-date=30 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330221121/https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/one-nation-leader-pauline-hanson-demands-nsw-leader-mark-latham-apologise-for-disgusting-homophobic-social-media-post/news-story/316d75cfd8c6c40b7cd388eda49e7461 | url-status=live }}</ref> The comments were deemed to be [[homophobia|homophobic]] by Greenwich and other politicians,<ref name="Smith-2023" /><ref>{{cite web | last=Green | first=Eli | title=One Nation MP's 'homophobic' tweet | website=news | date=30 March 2023 |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/one-nation-mp-mark-latham-slammed-over-homophobic-tweet/news-story/a3998315ba0d0c060e12acb99a0e9655 | access-date=31 March 2023}}</ref> and received significant backlash, even from within his own party as [[Pauline Hanson]] criticised Latham and called for him to apologise. Latham later deleted the tweet, but refused to apologise.<ref name="Smith-2023">{{Cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Alexandra |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/nsw/disgusting-pauline-hanson-slams-latham-s-homophobic-comments-20230330-p5cwsv.html |title='Disgusting': Pauline Hanson slams Latham's homophobic comments stories |website=www.theage.com.au |date=30 March 2023 |accessdate=30 March 2023 |archive-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330081138/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/nsw/disgusting-pauline-hanson-slams-latham-s-homophobic-comments-20230330-p5cwsv.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Green | first=Eli | title='Never apologise': Latham breaks silence | website=news | date=30 March 2023 |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/one-nation-mp-mark-latham-slammed-over-homophobic-tweet/news-story/a3998315ba0d0c060e12acb99a0e9655 | access-date=31 March 2023}}</ref> Greenwich strongly criticised the tweet (which he says brought him to tears), calling Latham "unfit for office".<ref name="Rose-2023">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/01/nsw-environment-minister-renews-calls-for-mark-latham-to-apologise-over-unacceptable-tweet | title=Mark Latham refuses to apologise for homophobic tweet | newspaper=The Guardian | date=April 2023 | last1=Rose | first1=Tamsin }}</ref>

Conservative commentator [[Andrew Bolt]], who had interviewed Latham several times on ''[[Sky News Australia]]'', said that Latham had a "self-destruct button" and questioned his ability to function as a political leader after "earning the contempt of so many".<ref>{{cite web | last=Hannaford | first=Patrick | title=Andrew Bolt unleashes on Mark Latham for 'disgusting' homophobic tweet | website=Sky News Australia | date=30 March 2023 |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/andrew-bolt-has-unleashed-on-mark-latham-disgusting-and-dedepraved-homophobic-tweet-targeting-nsw-mp-alex-greenwich/news-story/716b9c3f35adde9c42549cacb66a43b7 | access-date=31 March 2023 | archive-date=30 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330212550/https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/andrew-bolt-has-unleashed-on-mark-latham-disgusting-and-dedepraved-homophobic-tweet-targeting-nsw-mp-alex-greenwich/news-story/716b9c3f35adde9c42549cacb66a43b7 | url-status=live }}</ref> Newly elected [[Premier of New South Wales|New South Wales Premier]] [[Chris Minns]] called Latham's tweet "vile and shameful", and labelled him a "bigot".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/politics/sydney-mp-alex-greenwich-vows-to-enact-lgbt-law-reforms-after-mark-lathams-homophobic-tweets/news-story/a40b9d2e50b541457a7ed96646f127a7|title=NSW Premier Chris Minns blasts Mark Latham over homophobic tweet targeting Sydney MP Alex Greenwich|work=News.com.au|first1=Jessica|last1=Wang|first2=Eli|last2=Green|date=31 March 2023|accessdate=31 March 2023}}</ref> [[Minister for Environment (New South Wales)|Environment Minister]] [[Penny Sharpe]] also criticised Latham's comments.<ref name="Rose-2023" /> Federal [[National Party of Australia|Nationals]] leader [[David Littleproud]] called on Pauline Hanson to take action against Latham for his comments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/03/david-littleproud-calls-on-one-nation-to-take-action-against-mark-latham-over-tweet | title=David Littleproud calls on One Nation to take action against Mark Latham over tweet &#124; New South Wales politics &#124; the Guardian | website=[[TheGuardian.com]] | date=3 April 2023 | last1=Rose | first1=Tamsin }}</ref>

On 28 April 2023, Greenwich threatened legal action against Latham for "homosexual vilification". Latham again refused to apologise, causing [[Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)|Opposition Leader]] [[Mark Speakman]] to condemn his comments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark Latham defends homophobic slurs, saying Pauline Hanson can't understand 'how straight men feel' {{!}} Mark Latham {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/28/mark-latham-defends-homophobic-jibes-saying-pauline-hanson-cant-understand-how-straight-men-feel |access-date=1 May 2023 |website=amp.theguardian.com|date=28 April 2023 |last1=Rose |first1=Tamsin }}</ref> In May 2023, Greenwich announced he would be launching defamation action against Latham over the tweet. He also made a formal police complaint about Latham using a [[Mobile network operator|carriage service]] to harass and offend, and a homosexual vilification complaint to the anti-discrimination board.<ref>{{cite news |author= Ashleigh Raper |work=[[ABC News (Australia)]]  |title=Independent MP Alex Greenwich to sue One Nation's Mark Latham for defamation over tweet |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-18/alex-greenwich-to-sue-mark-latham-for-defamation-over-tweet/102360646  |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=18 May 2023 |access-date=27 July 2023}}</ref>

On 11 September 2024, Judge David O'Callaghan of the [[Federal Court of Australia|Federal Court]] ruled that the tweet was defamatory because it made Greenwich out to be a person that "engages in disgusting sexual activities". He rejected Latham's [[Defamation in Australia#Elements, defences, and remedies|defences]], a statutory defence of honest opinion and a common law defence of qualified privilege, right of reply to attack. Greenwich also claimed that the tweet conveyed that Greenwich was not a fit and proper person to be a member of the [[Parliament of New South Wales|New South Wales Parliament]], however, the judge found that allegation not proven. The court awarded Greenwich $140,000 in damages. Greenwich praised the judgement, saying "It gives me confidence that we've established some case law here that can protect other LGBTQ people", and that "The strength of this judgment is that it is made clear that this [[Trumpism|Trump-style]] political attack on your opponents based on their sexuality, based on whatever you want to attack them for, has no place in the Australian public political discourse".<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 September 2024 |title=Sydney MP Alex Greenwich awarded $140,000 after suing Mark Latham |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-11/alex-greenwich-awarded-suing-mark-lathan-defamation/104336472 |access-date=14 September 2024 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name="Rose-2024" />

===Independent (since 2023)===

In 2025, Latham opposed the sale of [[Rosehill Racecourse]]. Premier [[Chris Minns]] proposed the sale to build more homes and a metro station.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=13 August 2025 |archive-date=12 August 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250812195737/https://www.smh.com.au/cbd/mark-latham-faces-another-rosehill-humiliation-20250812-p5mmd7.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |name-list-style=and |url=https://www.smh.com.au/cbd/mark-latham-faces-another-rosehill-humiliation-20250812-p5mmd7.html |date=13 August 2025 |title=Mark Latham faces another Rosehill humiliation |first1=Kishor |last1=Napier-Raman |first2=Madeleine |last2=Heffernan}}</ref>

In November 2025, after a [[neo-Nazi]] rally at [[New South Wales Parliament House]], Latham compared premier [[Chris Minns]] to [[Adolf Hitler]] and used slurs to refer to [[Minns ministry|members of his cabinet]].<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=13 November 2025 |date=13 November 2025 |title=Latham condemned after comparing premier to Hitler in 'grossly offensive' rant |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20251113045604/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/latham-condemned-after-comparing-premier-to-hitler-in-grossly-offensive-rant-20251113-p5nf90.html |archive-date=13 November 2025 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/latham-condemned-after-comparing-premier-to-hitler-in-grossly-offensive-rant-20251113-p5nf90.html |first=Jessica |last=McSweeney}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Latham began dating his first wife, Gabrielle Gwyther, in 1987, and they married in 1991. They separated in 1997 and divorced in 1999.<ref>[https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/11/1089484230071.html A leader in profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063834/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/11/1089484230071.html |date=4 March 2016 }}, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 11 July 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2017.</ref> Latham married his second wife, Janine Lacy, in 2000; they have two sons together.<ref>[https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/11/1089484241847.html Young man in a hurry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115052345/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/11/1089484241847.html |date=15 November 2016 }}, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 12 July 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2017.</ref> Latham announced his separation from Lacy in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maiden |first=Samantha |date=19 September 2022 |title=Mark Latham's cryptic Facebook post after splitting from wife |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/mark-lathams-cryptic-facebook-post-after-splitting-from-wife/news-story/287a072e31460b491a267cbb05cc01b7 |access-date=19 September 2022 |website=Herald Sun}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2022/09/19/mark-latham-marriage-split/ | title=One Nation politician Mark Latham's marriage ends in 'unique circumstances' | date=19 September 2022 | first=Genevieve | last=Thorpe | work=[[The New Daily]] | accessdate=19 September 2022 | archive-date=19 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919123734/https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2022/09/19/mark-latham-marriage-split/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Latham has described himself as a [[humanist]]. In a 2004 interview he said "I'm [[agnostic]]. I think there's a force, a spiritual world beyond the material. But I'm not in a position to define it, let alone put it into a certain form of religious practice."<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s1201238.htm What Our Leaders Believe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422205905/http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s1201238.htm |date=22 April 2017 }}, ABC News, 3 October 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2017.</ref>

In mid-July 2025, a NSW [[Domestic violence in Australia|apprehended violence order]] application was made against Latham by a former partner.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coote |first1=Gavin |title=Mark Latham denies ex-partner's allegations of domestic abuse and 'degrading' sex acts |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-15/nsw-mark-latham-allegations-former-partner-court-order/105532094 |access-date=17 July 2025 |work=ABC News |date=15 July 2025}}</ref>  He denies the allegations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Latham denies wrongdoing amid media reports alleging messages from parliament, office sex video |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-17/nsw-mp-mark-latham-denies-media-reports-parliament-action/105540626 |access-date=17 July 2025 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=17 July 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==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). {{ISBN|1-74051-318-5}}
* Lagan, Bernard (2005), ''Loner. Inside a Labor Tragedy'', Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest, New South Wales. {{ISBN|1-74114-515-5}}
* Latham, Mark (1998), ''Civilising global capital: new thinking for Australian Labor'', Allen and Unwin, St Leonards, New South Wales. {{ISBN|1-86448-668-6}}
* Latham, Mark (2001), ''What did you learn today? : creating an education revolution'', Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest, New South Wales. {{ISBN|1-86508-478-6}}
* Latham, Mark (2002), ''Wedge politics and the culture war in Australia'', Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, King's College, University of London, London, England. {{ISBN|1-85507-123-1}}
* Latham, Mark (2003), ''From the Suburbs: Building a Nation from Our Neighbourhoods'', Pluto Press, Annandale, New South Wales. {{ISBN|1-86403-189-1}}
* Latham, Mark (2005), ''The Latham Diaries'', Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria. {{ISBN|0-522-85215-7}}
* Latham, Mark (2006), ''A conga line of suckholes: Mark Latham's book of quotations'', Melbourne University Publishing, Carlton, Victoria. {{ISBN|0-522-85305-6}}
* Latham, Mark (2017), ''Outsiders'', Wilkinson Publishing, Melbourne, Victoria {{ISBN|978-1-925642-11-7}}
* Latham, Mark (2018), ''Taking Back Australia: Saving Our Country, Our Culture, Our Civilisation'', Wilkinson Publishing, Melbourne, Victoria {{ISBN|978-1-925642-59-9}}
* McGregor, Craig (2004), ''Australian Son: Inside Mark Latham'', Pluto Press, North Melbourne Victoria. {{ISBN|1-86403-288-X}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/services/access-to-files-and-transcripts/online-files/greenwich-v-latham Greenwich v Latham] [[Federal Court of Australia]] online file
* Abraham, Matt (9 July 2004). [https://web.archive.org/web/20051201105200/http://crikey.com.au/politics/2004/07/09-0004.html Howard's toughest interview of the year]. ''Crikey.com.au''
* Allard, Tom; & Metherell, Mark (11 October 2004). [https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/10/1097406429506.html Late release of policy cost Latham the Lodge]. ''The Sydney Morning Herald''.
*[http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2267198 A fair dinkum Labor hero] (4 December 2003). ''[[The Economist]]''.
*[http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11983068%255E421,00.html Ill health ends Latham's career] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801053811/https://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11983068%255E421,00.html |date=1 August 2021 }}. ''NEWS.com.au''.
*[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1284113.htm Latham quits] (18 January 2005). ''ABC News Online''.
* [[wikisource:Mark Latham's concession of the 2004 Australian election|Mark Latham's concession of the 2004 Australian election]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051122065602/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C10117%2C15174749-421%2C00.html Latham diaries have 'fantastic bile']
*[https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/11/1089484230071.html First part of two part expose of Latham's personal life in Sydney Morning Herald]
*[https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/11/1089484241847.html Second part of two part expose of Latham's personal life in Sydney Morning Herald]
*[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3706790.stm Labor's rebranded leader (BBC)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110612015221/http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/TranslateWIPILink.aspx?Folder=HANSARDR&Criteria=DOC_DATE:26 August 2002%3BSEQ_NUM:99%3B New Political Correctness speech by Mark Latham to House of Representatives 26 August 2002 (Transcript)][http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2002/08/02-08-26.shtml Text] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201091528/http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2002/08/02-08-26.shtml |date=1 December 2008 }}
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