Latham refuses apology for homophobic attack on Sydney MP

Mark Latham is showing no signs of backing down after posting and deleting a graphic homophobic attack on openly gay Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, instead defiantly rejecting mounting calls for contrition through statements and social media posts.

The One Nation NSW leader broke a day of silence with defiant posts rejecting calls to apologise, including sharing an article with the quote "Never apologise, never explain." Independent MP Alex Greenwich responded by saying Latham's homophobic remarks had briefly brought him to tears and called him "clearly unfit for office."

The dispute originated in Latham's response to media coverage of a violent protest at a church where he had campaigned during the state election. Greenwich, who is openly gay and married, had publicly criticised Latham's presence at the rally. Latham responded with a graphic and homophobic description of sexual acts—content he later deleted, claiming it was unsuitable for children to encounter.

His removal of the post, however, was not accompanied by any apology. Instead, Latham suggested in comments to media that aggressive responses to public criticism were justified retaliation, framing his attack as proportionate to what he characterised as Greenwich's insults. "Sometimes in public life when you throw out insults they come back at you harder and truer," he said.

"Mr Latham is clearly unfit for office, and I hope he gets the help he needs," Greenwich told reporters in response, emphasising that Latham's attack was "vile" and reinforced his own commitment to advancing LGBTQ reforms in parliament with members who actually support the community.

The newly elected NSW Labor government has issued unambiguous condemnation. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said Latham's behaviour has "no place" in NSW, in its politics, or in the community, and called explicitly for him to apologise to Greenwich. Yet she outlined a significant constraint: parliament cannot discipline Latham until upper house ballot counting concludes on 20 April, a deadline Latham had anticipated by resigning before the election and reconcontesting his seat.

Condemnation has come from across the political spectrum. Pauline Hanson, One Nation's founder and national leader, called the remarks "disgusting" and said she had attempted to contact Latham by phone and text to express her disapproval, to no avail. Conservative media figures Ray Hadley and Andrew Bolt have also criticised the remarks. Premier Chris Minns has joined calls for a public apology.

Latham is set to take his seat in parliament with an eight-year term, at which point parliamentary rules may finally give the government tools to address his conduct. For now, the impasse remains unresolved—and Latham's defiant posture suggests he has no intention of yielding to the pressure.