Former federal Labor leader and independent NSW MP Mark Latham has been accused of denigrating his former partner online after she alleged a sustained pattern of abuse and manipulation in an application for an apprehended violence order (AVO).
Nathalie May Matthews outlined the allegations in court documents, claiming a pattern of controlling behaviour. Latham, 64, denied the claims as "comically false and ridiculous" and maintained he had broken no laws.
Police have not laid charges, and the local court refused to release the AVO application because the allegations are untested. Matthews' lawyer urged the court to expedite a non-publication order, citing Latham's posts on X, formerly Twitter, that he said were denigrating his client and posed a risk of harm. Latham's lawyer, Zali Burrows, countered that no threats to safety had been made.
Magistrate Susan Horan scheduled a hearing for the non-publication order application in October, with a three-day contested hearing over Matthews' AVO application set for 20 May. Matthews will call one witness; Latham will call two witnesses and present video evidence.
Latham previously sought to subpoena WiseTech Global founder Richard White, but Burrows indicated that subpoena would no longer be pursued. A second subpoena directed at Matthews will be narrowed. Latham did not appear in court, citing parliamentary duties, and criticised the court online, asking, "Is this how the NSW justice system works?"
