Former New South Wales One Nation leader Mark Latham declined to pay independent MP Alex Greenwich $20,000 to settle a defamation lawsuit over an explicit tweet, court documents reveal. The settlement offer, made in April 2023, would have required Latham to issue a public apology to avoid litigation.
Greenwich is suing Latham in the federal court over a tweet sent in March 2023, days after the state election. The tweet described a sex act and was a response to a post quoting Greenwich calling Latham a 'disgusting human being'. Greenwich claims the tweet damaged his reputation and led to homophobic abuse, making him afraid to attend public events.
In the settlement letter, Greenwich's lawyer stated that the tweet and subsequent comments to the Daily Telegraph were defamatory, alleging they depicted Greenwich as a disgusting person who grooms children to become gay. Latham's lawyer rejected the offer in May 2023, calling it disproportionate and vowing to 'strenuously defend' the claims.
Greenwich subsequently filed a defamation case, a vilification lawsuit, and a police complaint. Latham denies the tweet was defamatory or targeted Greenwich specifically, arguing that his own reputation suffered due to backlash from across the political spectrum.
