World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Mark Latham served with bankruptcy notice over defamation debt
Mark Latham was served with a bankruptcy notice at Royal Randwick racecourse in Sydney while attending a horse-racing event.
The former NSW One Nation leader owes independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich about $180,000 in court-ordered damages and interest, with unpaid legal costs taking the total bill above $500,000.
The debt stems from Latham’s defamation of Greenwich in a sexually aggressive social media post in 2023.
The Federal Court upheld the finding, and the High Court dismissed Latham’s final appeal earlier this month.
Latham has 21 days to pay the outstanding debt; if he does not, he can apply to a court to be declared bankrupt.
Under NSW law, a member who becomes bankrupt must leave parliament, so the outcome could affect Latham’s seat.
Mark Latham was served with a bankruptcy notice at Royal Randwick racecourse over a defamation debt owed to independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich.
The debt includes about $180,000 in court-ordered damages and interest, while unpaid legal costs take Latham’s total bill above $500,000.
The notice follows Greenwich’s successful defamation case over a 2023 social media post, with the Federal Court upholding the finding.
Latham has 21 days to pay the outstanding debt; if he does not, he can apply to a court to be declared bankrupt.
Under NSW law, a member of parliament who becomes bankrupt must have their seat declared vacant.
- Who
- Mark Latham was served with the notice; Alex Greenwich is pursuing the defamation debt.
- What
- Latham was served with a bankruptcy notice over court-ordered damages and interest.
- When
- October 31, 2026, at a horse-racing event.
- Where
- Royal Randwick racecourse in Sydney.
- Why
- The notice stems from Greenwich’s successful defamation lawsuit over a 2023 social media post.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Latham published the social media post that later formed the basis of Greenwich’s defamation lawsuit.
The High Court dismissed Latham’s final appeal, according to Greenwich’s statement cited by SMH.com.au.
Latham was served with a bankruptcy notice at Royal Randwick racecourse.
- Damages and interest
- About $180,000
- Total bill including unpaid legal costs
- More than $500,000
- Payment deadline
- 21 days
- Racing venue
- Royal Randwick racecourse
- Relevant NSW law
- NSW Constitution Act 1902
3 sources
What people are saying
When the left say, ‘Lower the temperature in politics,’ I was followed today for hours at the races (of all places) by some server (to deliver documents my lawyer already had) plus the Tele journalist and photographer
Mr Latham defamed me in a sexually aggressive social media post that subjected me to an avalanche of homophobic hate