Mark Latham’s repeated homophobic commentary is unworthy of a parliamentarian, according to the incoming New South Wales Liberal leader, Mark Speakman.
Latham on Thursday reiterated offensive comments he made about homosexuality and Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, while suggesting the federal One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, could not understand “how straight men feel about this”.
The former Labor prime ministerial candidate is now One Nation’s NSW leader, and was recently returned to the state’s upper house for an eight-year term. He claimed during an online radio interview on Thursday that Hanson had not made contact since his original homophobic comment about Greenwich caused an uproar a month ago, despite a public declaration that she had done so.
“Pauline hasn’t rung me at any stage; I’ve had no contact from her whatsoever,” Latham told Chris Smith.
“I’m assuming as a woman she does not understand how straight men feel about this.”
He added: “She hasn’t contacted me and I’m not apologising, so I’m not resigning from anything. I’m not apologising or not backing down.”
At the time, Hanson posted a video to social media decrying the comments and insisting Latham should apologise to voters, saying she had tried to ring him “a couple of times” to ask him to apologise.
“I want you to know that I don’t condone them [the comments] and neither do my members of parliament or party associates,” she said.
“I think they are disgusting.”
Speakman condemned the latest remarks on Friday morning.
“Mark Latham’s comments were reprehensible, and unworthy of a member of parliament,” he said.
“He should have the courage to say he did the wrong thing and apologise.”
Speakman has not yet met with Greenwich since Latham’s attacks on the high profile independent MP began. The pair are understood to be meeting next week.
Latham’s original comments were made on Twitter shortly after the state election in response to an article in which Sydney independent MP Greenwich called him “a disgusting human being”. The article was about LGBTQ+ protesters being targeted outside an event Latham spoke at.
In response, Latham said “disgusting?” and then went on to make gratuitous comments about a sexual act. The Guardian chose not to publish the full comment, which was condemned across the political spectrum.
The tweet was deleted within three hours but Latham on Thursday said he stuck by his views about homosexual sex.
He claimed that his views reflected those of straight men.
Latham used the 20-minute interview to continuously repeat his claims in graphic language.
Speaking after the first comments were made, Greenwich said he did not expect to still be dealing with homophobia but the matter has made him more resolved in progressing LGBTQ+ rights in the state.
The state’s new premier, Chris Minns, labelled Latham a bigot following the initial comment.
“They’re vile and shameful comments,” he said.
He called on politicians to join in “unambiguous and universal condemnation” of comments like Latham’s that unleash “ghouls” on their recipients.
When contacted, Hanson declined to comment.
