Mark Latham’s sexually explicit anti-gay tweet about MP Alex Greenwich changed his life, court told

Mark Latham’s defense of a homophobic, explicit tweet left fellow MP Alex Greenwich angry and stomach turning, a court has been told.

Mr Greenwich has sued the former NSW One Nation leader in the Federal Court for defamation over a tweet sent in March 2023, days after the state election.

Mr Latham’s sexually explicit tweet was in response to an earlier post that quoted the independent MP describing him as a ‘disgusting human being’.

Mr Greenwich claims Mr Latham’s post defamed him by claiming he engaged in disgusting sex acts and was unfit to be a politician.

He also claims that statements made by Mr Latham and published in the Daily Telegraph in April 2023 further discredited him by accusing him of grooming children in schools.

Appearing in the witness box on Wednesday, Mr Greenwich said Mr Latham’s defense left him angry and saddened and his stomach churning.

“I have been active in public life for a long time,” he told the court.

‘I have… tried to make it clear that gays are normal, we are just like everyone else.’

He denied Mr Latham’s attempts to say he had gone to schools to talk to children about sexual activity, he said.

“I don’t do that and I wouldn’t do that.”

The online sparring match between the two politicians came after violent protests outside a church in Sydney’s south-west where Mr Latham gave a pre-election speech in March 2023.

About 250 mainly male counter-protesters violently attacked police and 15 LGBTQI demonstrators who lined up outside Belfield church, the court heard.

Opening the case, Matt Collins KC, barrister for Mr Greenwich, said Mr Latham’s tweet had caused a flood of abuse, including death threats, despite being online for just two hours and 20 minutes.

“Our case is that at that time the course of Mr Greenwich’s life changed,” he told Judge David O’Callaghan.

The former One Nation leader had played on two tired stereotypes in making his comments – that gays are somehow depraved and a danger to children.

The lawyer said that while his client had tried to participate in a bona fide debate arising from the violent incident, his opponent took a different path.

“Mr Latham, rather than wading into that debate, went as low as he could,” he said.

Mr Greenwich (pictured) claims Mr Latham’s post defamed him by claiming he engaged in disgusting sex acts and was unfit to be a politician

Latham wrote: ‘Disgusting? How does that compare to sticking a guy’s ass and covering it in shit?’

The abuse, both online and in messages to his Sydney election office, included claims Mr Greenwich was a groomer and a pedophile and that death was too good for him, the court was told.

The violent nature of these words caused serious damage to the independent MP, Dr Collins said.

“As a result of Mr Latham’s behaviour, he is experiencing panic attacks, feeling anxious and lacking self-confidence,” the lawyer said.

“He finds himself becoming overly emotional, crying, and reluctant to attend large gatherings out of fear.”

Under cross-examination by Mr Latham’s lawyer, Keiran Smark SC, Mr Greenwich denied his initial comment to a journalist from the Sydney Morning Herald, in which he called Mr Latham a disgusting human being who was intended to provoke.

“This was the first instance of political violence in an election period in Australia for some time,” Greenwich told the court.

‘There had been a campaign by Mr Latham to target vulnerable members of the LGBT community.

“These two things combined, I think my assessment was correct.”

The former federal Labor opposition leader will not take a stand.

The hearing continues.