Mark Latham has quietly listed his sprawling five-bedroom family home for sale, but the rogue MP says it has nothing to do with mounting legal bills and damages owed in his feud with political rival Alex Greenwich.
Latham last week lost a legal bid to overturn a defamation judgment against him over a homophobic social media post about Greenwich.
The Federal Court upheld the original finding that Latham’s post, which was highly graphic and referred to Greenwich’s sexuality, defamed the MP. The original decision ordered Latham to pay Greenwich’s hefty legal costs.
The former One Nation NSW leader listed his Mount Hunter property for sale with a price guide of between $2.4 million and $2.6 million. The property has a two-hectare estate “nestled amongst the rolling hills and peaceful rural landscapes” near Camden on Sydney’s south-west fringe. The property features “the perfect blend of country charm, modern luxury and family living”, the listing states.
When contacted, Latham said the sale was not related to the Greenwich matter.
“There’s 20-plus reasons to sell a house,” he said, describing this masthead as a “gossip rag”.
Latham must pay $100,000 in damages for non-economic loss and $40,000 in aggravated damages to Greenwich, on top of paying the MP’s costs. This masthead reported last year that Federal Court Justice David O’Callaghan ordered Latham cover Greenwich’s costs on an ordinary basis, which typically results in the successful party recovering about 70 per cent of their legal bills.
Greenwich’s costs were estimated at more than $600,000 at the time of that ruling, which does not include Latham’s subsequent appeal. The two MPs will return to court to determine appeal-related costs.
Latham is also on the hook for $100,000 in compensation, plus legal costs, after the NSW Civil and Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division found Latham’s words amounted to unlawful homosexual vilification and sexual harassment. Latham is appealing that decision.
The mounting financial penalties could have wider implications for NSW politics, where Latham has proven to be an effective nemesis of the Minns government. Latham’s lawyer, Zali Burrows, told a hearing during the NCAT dispute that Latham could face bankruptcy if Greenwich sought costs.
Under the NSW Constitution Act 1902, any member of parliament who “becomes bankrupt or takes the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors” must have their seat declared vacant.
Property records show the MP’s five-bedroom home was first listed for sale on May 12, before being relisted under a different agent on June 2.
Latham purchased the then-empty land in 2006 after retiring from a career in federal politics and a tumultuous time as federal Labor leader. With ex-wife Janine Lacy, the family built the colonial-style home where Latham has lived for more than 18 years.
Records show he transferred ownership of the property to Lacy in 2017, before buying it back for $815,000 as part of divorce proceedings in 2023.
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Jessica McSweeney is a reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald covering state politics and urban affairs.Connect via email.
