Mark Latham is under renewed scrutiny following allegations of inappropriate messages and conduct involving female MPs. It comes as Labor called on the Coalition to cut ties with Mr Latham in a bid to change the definition of sexual harassment at work.

New South Wales

Mark Latham, a long-serving politician in New South Wales, is facing allegations of inappropriate conduct after leaked messages surfaced. The messages reportedly include comments about female MPs and claims of sharing photos, as well as an alleged incident involving Liberal MP Eleni Patinos, which both parties deny occurred.

The situation has led to calls for potential sanctions, with the Liberal Party considering a formal referral. Latham has stated that no official complaints have been made against him during his time as an MP. The incident has reignited discussions about the standards of conduct expected in Parliament and the challenges of enforcing them.

Disparaging messages by Mark Latham about colleagues revealed

Mark Latham has made enemies in his 30-year political career, and it's clear some smell blood in the water – a feeding frenzy of front pages fuelled by leaked messages and unnamed sources. The latest allege a sex tape in his Parliament office, another that he sent photos of female MPs to his ex, Natalie Matthews. One of his view of Greens MP Abigail Boyd, another of Liberal Susan Carter-Walking, captioned Grandma. I am just so disappointed that in the 21st century we are still having to say women should be respected at work. In another message it suggested Liberal MP Eleni Patinos looks pregnant and that he pinched her bum lightly and she smiled. Patinos says that didn't happen and so does Latham, posting that Matthews, a Liberal herself, had a particular interest amusement in the weight gain of a female Liberal MP she knew and loved feedback from me about her. I would reply with prank nonsense from Parliament House as part of the long-running in-joke. Clearly it was humour about things that had actually not happened. I mean Mark Latham's a pig, like I've been on the record about that for a long time. I mean in a typical workplace he'd be gone tomorrow. But Parliament is not typical and the bar for booting an elected MP is incredibly high. Only once before has an upper house politician been expelled and that was half a century ago for trying to bribe a Supreme Court judge. While Latham has called Carter to apologise, the Liberals will consider referring him for potential sanctions. The position of the Coalition is that we stand for the respect of our colleagues in the Parliament. Online Latham says Parliament has strict complaint procedures about inappropriate contact with women. In six years as an MP, I have never been contacted to respond to any complaint. Not one. Above and beyond the revelations of the last week, he's been appalling for a long time. The member's Code of Conduct states MPs must treat each other with dignity, courtesy and respect. Lachlan Kennedy, 10 News.

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