logo
Major call on Mark Latham portrait after public allegations levelled at him by ex-partner Nathalie Matthews

Major call on Mark Latham portrait after public allegations levelled at him by ex-partner Nathalie Matthews

7NEWS22-07-2025
Embattled politician Mark Latham's portrait will remain on the wall of past Labor leaders at Parliament House but a plaque will be adding saying he was 'banned for life' from the party.
Latham made headlines last week when his former partner, Nathalie Matthews, alleged a 'sustained pattern' of abuse by him including claims he once defecated on her before sex.
Latham has denied any wrongdoing. He has not been charged with any crime.
Amid the controversy, several people including Sydney MP Tanya Plibersek, have called for his portrait to be removed from Parliament House.
Latham was banned from the ALP nearly a decade ago, after he joined the Liberal Democratic Party in May 2017. He went on to join Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party.
Now, a note will hang below the portrait saying: 'In 2017 Mark Latham was expelled from the Australian Labor Party and banned for life. His actions do not accord with Labor values and failed to meet the standards we expect and demand.'
On Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph's James Willis and Western Sydney Women CEO Amanda Rose joined Monique Wright on Sunrise, speaking about the decision.
'I think we have to be careful about removing history. There's been some poor examples of that in Australia, where statues have been removed unfairly,' Willis said.
'In this case, Mark Latham was the leader of the Labor Party ... so, to remove him altogether would have been silly.
'I think the censorship is a bit of a shot at him.
'But ultimately, the bigger question here is that given what has been revealed about Mark Latham in the last week, and not just the allegations by his ex-partner, but the explicit texts in Parliament, and the other behaviour that's been reported, in any other workplace, whether it was in media, whether he was the CEO of a company, he would have been suspended or gone by now.
'Instead, he's still Parliament and we can't do anything about him for years to come.'
Rose advocated a level of fairness, saying if Latham's portrait was to be removed then everyone's history would need to be re-examined.
'I think the reality is if you're going to remove his portrait for things he's done now, or doing now, then you are going to have to go through every single portrait on that wall and say 'What have they done that we don't agree with?' And then (potentially) remove it,' Rose said.
'I'm sure there's plenty on there that have been great and plenty that have done some dodgy things as well.
'James is right. You don't want to remove history.
'His role ... was back then, and I think just removing someone's entire past because of something that they're going through right now, if you apply that ... you would have to apply that to everyone. Both sides of politics..'
Rose agreed with a plaque.
'That's information (because he was expelled),' Rose said.
'I think just now, everyone is kind of focusing on getting rid of everything with him ... If we did that in a lot of circumstance, a lot of people would have to get removed.'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outraged
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in for the first time since the allegations emerged, saying he never wanted Latham to be the party's leader.
'Mark Latham has views which I find repulsive across a range of areas,' Albanese told ABC's 7.30.
'He's someone who I regret being ever being elected leader of the Labor Party.'
Albanese said his feelings were not in 'retrospect' and he had been doing the numbers for Kim Beazley during the 2003 leadership challenge which Latham narrowly won.
'History has proven that judgment to be correct. Mark Latham since ... has gone further and further and further away from any values that represent mainstream Australia,' he said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Brisbane news live: Queensland's ‘rental squeeze' continues
Brisbane news live: Queensland's ‘rental squeeze' continues

Sydney Morning Herald

time30 minutes ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Brisbane news live: Queensland's ‘rental squeeze' continues

Latest posts Latest posts 7.13am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Fears of a devastating tsunami faded late yesterday for the US and Japan, after one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck off a sparsely populated Russian peninsula, but new alerts along South America's Pacific coast forced evacuations and closed beaches. Legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne was farewelled in his native Birmingham overnight. The cortège of the Prince of Darkness was driven through his home city in central England before a private funeral, stopping at a bench dedicated to the band on the Broad Street canal bridge, along the city's major thoroughfare. Prosecutors are moving to take control of the home where Erin Patterson poisoned her lunch guests with death cap-laced beef Wellingtons so it can be sold to compensate her victims' families. Google has cancelled a parliamentary concert featuring rock band The Rubens after federal Labor announced YouTube, which the tech giant owns, would be added to Australia's social media ban for under 16s. In other tech news, billionaire Scott Farquhar has defended widespread adoption of AI after the tech giant he co-founded slashed 150 jobs in roles exposed to the new technology. A Sydney plumber facing the death penalty for his alleged role in the execution-style murder of Melbourne man Zivan 'Stipe' Radmanovic inside a luxury Balinese villa last month claims he was 'just helping a friend'. The Australian Tax Office is set to review a decade-old decision to write off penalties and interest related to a tax dispute with an investment company owned by former prime minister Paul Keating. And Australia was rocked by a food poisoning drama at the world swimming championships in Singapore on Wednesday night after Sam Short announced he would not line up in the 800m freestyle final. 7.08am The top local stories this morning Good morning, and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Thursday, July 31. Today we can expect a mostly sunny day with a top temperature of 21 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: Brisbane 2032's independent infrastructure delivery body has walked back claims the proposed National Aquatic Centre at Spring Hill would cost taxpayers more than $1 billion to build. The nuclear-powered USS Ohio has quietly slipped into Brisbane for the first time, and for its crew, silence is not only a motto, it's a way of life. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has announced that Queensland's powerful public inquiry into the CFMEU will be given wide scope to consider a new 'fit and proper person' test for officials, and to scrutinise workplace agreements. In sport, Curtis Scott reached rugby league's greatest heights, suffered a fall, and rebuilt himself through combat sports. Now, the former Melbourne Storm premiership winner has declared he can launch an NRL comeback.

Tasmanian senator Josh Dolega addresses queer youth in maiden speech
Tasmanian senator Josh Dolega addresses queer youth in maiden speech

ABC News

time30 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Tasmanian senator Josh Dolega addresses queer youth in maiden speech

Tasmania's first openly gay Labor senator, Josh Dolega, has used his maiden speech to "give a sense of hope" to young queer people wanting to enter politics. Previously a Public Service Union (CPSU) organiser, Senator Dolega filled the vacancy left by Anne Urquhart, who vacated the role to successfully run in the lower house seat of Braddon in the federal election. Despite having a low public profile, Mr Dolega beat secretary of Unions Tasmania, Jessica Munday, and the party's former state secretary, Stuart Benson, to fill the position. Addressing the Senate on Wednesday, he said his responsibilities were not lost on him. "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be here," Senator Dolega said. "I hope me being here today can give hope to young queer people that you, too, can come to this great place. Senator Dolega revealed he had been the subject of bullying as a young person growing up in Devonport, in the state's north-west. "There were some dangerous times when I was faced with violence and hatred," he said. "There were times when I wondered if I'd ever find someone to love and to love me back. "I don't bring all this up as a sign of weakness, but to give a sense of hope and a shining light to young queer people." Tasmania was the last state in the country to decriminalise homosexuality, changing its anti-homosexuality laws in May 1997. Up until that point, the maximum penalty for homosexuality in Tasmania was 21 years in jail. The state has since become the first to officially recognise those who identify as asexual, aromantic or agender. And in September last year, the Tasmanian government introduced a financial compensation scheme for people convicted of historical criminal offences of homosexuality and "cross-dressing". In his speech, Senator Dolega gave a nod to Tasmanian gay rights and equality activist Rodney Croome, who was a central campaigner in the fight for anti-homosexuality laws to be changed. "I acknowledge the efforts of Tasmania's Rodney Croome, his struggles and his strength and his outstanding contribution to gay rights and equality in Tasmania," Senator Dolega said. "My state was the last to decriminalise homosexuality and the only state to criminalise cross-dressing. "That's hard to imagine in this time — where RuPaul's Drag Race is an international phenomenon — that such laws ever existed." Before working as a union organiser, Senator Dolega worked for 15 years at the Australian Tax Office in Burnie.

Fears for vulnerable children as social media ban grows
Fears for vulnerable children as social media ban grows

The Advertiser

time2 hours ago

  • The Advertiser

Fears for vulnerable children as social media ban grows

Limiting children's access to social media could inadvertently harm marginalised children, an expert has warned, as YouTube is roped into Australia's ban. The federal government's decision to include the video-sharing platform in its social media ban for under-16s has renewed focus on the measure. While it has been broadly celebrated by the coalition and Labor, who say it will protect children from the harms of social media, youth mental health foundation Headspace disagrees. "This is seen as a solution and it may be helpful, we don't know. But it may cause harm as well," national clinical advisor Simon Dodd told AAP. "We've talked to young people and they value social media. They value the connections it gives them." This was particularly true for those who struggled to find physical community in parts of regional or rural Australia, and for LGBTQI youth, who use social media platforms to find support and stay safe, Mr Dodd said. Mental health is complicated as there are many factors that can impact it, including a person's social environment, and focusing on one measure as a solution risks missing opportunities to address young people's challenges . From December, people under 16 will no longer be able to create accounts on social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook ,TikTok and now YouTube. Platforms that fail to conform with these rules face fines of up to $49.5 million. Eating disorder not-for-profit Hide N Seek warned YouTube could be home to harmful content such as extreme videos about body transformations or "what I eat in a day" media. "It can be extremely damaging, extremely damaging for children who are still developing their sense of self," founder Jaimee Krawitz told AAP. "But YouTube also hosts supportive, recovery-focused communities and educational content that can be part of a young person's healing journey." The changes will still allow children to access YouTube Kids or view videos accessible without an account. Though he recognised regulation was part of the answer to making online spaces safer, Mr Dodd has also urged the government to centre on young people's voices. "They have consistently told us they get the complexities of the social media environment and understand it better than many of the adults who are trying to legislate something that is difficult to manage," he said. "Without genuine consultation, this will result in young people feeling less trust in government and that is a real worry." Limiting children's access to social media could inadvertently harm marginalised children, an expert has warned, as YouTube is roped into Australia's ban. The federal government's decision to include the video-sharing platform in its social media ban for under-16s has renewed focus on the measure. While it has been broadly celebrated by the coalition and Labor, who say it will protect children from the harms of social media, youth mental health foundation Headspace disagrees. "This is seen as a solution and it may be helpful, we don't know. But it may cause harm as well," national clinical advisor Simon Dodd told AAP. "We've talked to young people and they value social media. They value the connections it gives them." This was particularly true for those who struggled to find physical community in parts of regional or rural Australia, and for LGBTQI youth, who use social media platforms to find support and stay safe, Mr Dodd said. Mental health is complicated as there are many factors that can impact it, including a person's social environment, and focusing on one measure as a solution risks missing opportunities to address young people's challenges . From December, people under 16 will no longer be able to create accounts on social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook ,TikTok and now YouTube. Platforms that fail to conform with these rules face fines of up to $49.5 million. Eating disorder not-for-profit Hide N Seek warned YouTube could be home to harmful content such as extreme videos about body transformations or "what I eat in a day" media. "It can be extremely damaging, extremely damaging for children who are still developing their sense of self," founder Jaimee Krawitz told AAP. "But YouTube also hosts supportive, recovery-focused communities and educational content that can be part of a young person's healing journey." The changes will still allow children to access YouTube Kids or view videos accessible without an account. Though he recognised regulation was part of the answer to making online spaces safer, Mr Dodd has also urged the government to centre on young people's voices. "They have consistently told us they get the complexities of the social media environment and understand it better than many of the adults who are trying to legislate something that is difficult to manage," he said. "Without genuine consultation, this will result in young people feeling less trust in government and that is a real worry." Limiting children's access to social media could inadvertently harm marginalised children, an expert has warned, as YouTube is roped into Australia's ban. The federal government's decision to include the video-sharing platform in its social media ban for under-16s has renewed focus on the measure. While it has been broadly celebrated by the coalition and Labor, who say it will protect children from the harms of social media, youth mental health foundation Headspace disagrees. "This is seen as a solution and it may be helpful, we don't know. But it may cause harm as well," national clinical advisor Simon Dodd told AAP. "We've talked to young people and they value social media. They value the connections it gives them." This was particularly true for those who struggled to find physical community in parts of regional or rural Australia, and for LGBTQI youth, who use social media platforms to find support and stay safe, Mr Dodd said. Mental health is complicated as there are many factors that can impact it, including a person's social environment, and focusing on one measure as a solution risks missing opportunities to address young people's challenges . From December, people under 16 will no longer be able to create accounts on social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook ,TikTok and now YouTube. Platforms that fail to conform with these rules face fines of up to $49.5 million. Eating disorder not-for-profit Hide N Seek warned YouTube could be home to harmful content such as extreme videos about body transformations or "what I eat in a day" media. "It can be extremely damaging, extremely damaging for children who are still developing their sense of self," founder Jaimee Krawitz told AAP. "But YouTube also hosts supportive, recovery-focused communities and educational content that can be part of a young person's healing journey." The changes will still allow children to access YouTube Kids or view videos accessible without an account. Though he recognised regulation was part of the answer to making online spaces safer, Mr Dodd has also urged the government to centre on young people's voices. "They have consistently told us they get the complexities of the social media environment and understand it better than many of the adults who are trying to legislate something that is difficult to manage," he said. "Without genuine consultation, this will result in young people feeling less trust in government and that is a real worry." Limiting children's access to social media could inadvertently harm marginalised children, an expert has warned, as YouTube is roped into Australia's ban. The federal government's decision to include the video-sharing platform in its social media ban for under-16s has renewed focus on the measure. While it has been broadly celebrated by the coalition and Labor, who say it will protect children from the harms of social media, youth mental health foundation Headspace disagrees. "This is seen as a solution and it may be helpful, we don't know. But it may cause harm as well," national clinical advisor Simon Dodd told AAP. "We've talked to young people and they value social media. They value the connections it gives them." This was particularly true for those who struggled to find physical community in parts of regional or rural Australia, and for LGBTQI youth, who use social media platforms to find support and stay safe, Mr Dodd said. Mental health is complicated as there are many factors that can impact it, including a person's social environment, and focusing on one measure as a solution risks missing opportunities to address young people's challenges . From December, people under 16 will no longer be able to create accounts on social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook ,TikTok and now YouTube. Platforms that fail to conform with these rules face fines of up to $49.5 million. Eating disorder not-for-profit Hide N Seek warned YouTube could be home to harmful content such as extreme videos about body transformations or "what I eat in a day" media. "It can be extremely damaging, extremely damaging for children who are still developing their sense of self," founder Jaimee Krawitz told AAP. "But YouTube also hosts supportive, recovery-focused communities and educational content that can be part of a young person's healing journey." The changes will still allow children to access YouTube Kids or view videos accessible without an account. Though he recognised regulation was part of the answer to making online spaces safer, Mr Dodd has also urged the government to centre on young people's voices. "They have consistently told us they get the complexities of the social media environment and understand it better than many of the adults who are trying to legislate something that is difficult to manage," he said. "Without genuine consultation, this will result in young people feeling less trust in government and that is a real worry."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store