Key Points
- Mark Latham posted a tweet directed at openly gay Sydney MP Alex Greenwich last month.
- Mr Latham has since only offered an apology laced in sarcasm.
- Mr Greenwich gave him a deadline to apologise, which has now passed.
One Nation MP Mark Latham will have to defend in court a graphic tweet he posted after refusing to apologise for the homophobic slur.
NSW independent MP Alex Greenwich on Thursday flagged he would proceed with his threat to sue the NSW One Nation leader for defamation over the "extremely defamatory" tweet posted in March.
A deadline for Mr Latham to apologise for the tweet passed at 5pm on Wednesday.
Mr Greenwich said he had received a letter from Mr Latham's lawyers saying they would not accept his offer to resolve the situation outside of court and "no apology has been received".
Mr Greenwich had said he was prepared to sue Mr Latham if he did not apologise, retract the comment and commit not to make similar statements. Source: AAP / BIANCA DE MARCHI
The tweet which has been deleted was widely condemned by politicians across the spectrum, including One Nation federal leader Pauline Hanson and Premier Chris Minns, who said Labor would not work with Mr Latham to pass legislation in the upper house.
Mr Greenwich has also lodged a complaint of homosexual vilification and sexual harassment against Mr Latham with Anti-Discrimination NSW which is being investigated.
The One Nation MP is also being investigated by NSW Police after Mr Greenwich complained of being harassed online.
"This is not a process I enter into lightly, and a process I wish I didn't have to engage in," Mr Greenwich said on Thursday.
"However, Mr Latham's homophobic, sexualised attack has exposed me to contempt, ridicule and extreme abuse based on my sexuality, and demands actions," he said.
"It's 2023 and LGBTQIA+ Australians shouldn't have to put up with abuse that targets our sexuality, character, or ability to do our jobs."
"He made a very sexualised, targeted attack at me on Twitter, seeking to impugn my reputation amongst colleagues and he has since said that he believes that that's a view that all straight men believe," he previously said.
About $26,000 has been raised to fund Mr Greenwich's legal fight after Climate 200, a political group linked with teal independents, set up a community fund for donations.
A new donor has also promised to match the next $25,000 in donations, potentially boosting the fund to $75,000.
"It has been an incredible response from the community," Climate 200's executive director Byron Fay told AAP.
"Every dollar sends a strong message to Mark Latham that his behaviour is not acceptable and the community is willing to back those who are prepared to stand up to him."
The One Nation MP is being investigated by NSW Police after Mr Greenwich complained of being harassed online.
Mr Greenwich also lodged a complaint of homosexual vilification and sexual harassment with Anti-Discrimination NSW.
AAP has contacted Mr Latham for comment and NSW Police for comment.
