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Mark Latham in foul-mouthed tirade at Melbourne writers' festival Mark Latham in foul-mouthed tirade at Melbourne writers festival
(2 days later)
Former Labor leader Mark Latham has given a bizarre performance at the Melbourne writers’ festival, prompting some audience members to walk out and organisers to express their disappointment. Former Labor leader Mark Latham has given a bizarre performance at the Melbourne writers festival, prompting some audience members to walk out and organisers to express their disappointment.
It was Latham’s first public appearance since he resigned as a regular columnist for the Australian Financial Review earlier in the week.It was Latham’s first public appearance since he resigned as a regular columnist for the Australian Financial Review earlier in the week.
The session was supposed to be about whether former politicians could write objectively about politics, but Latham dismissed interviewer Jonathan Green’s questions and went off on his own tirade against “left-feminists” and “rich girls”.The session was supposed to be about whether former politicians could write objectively about politics, but Latham dismissed interviewer Jonathan Green’s questions and went off on his own tirade against “left-feminists” and “rich girls”.
After the session the festival tweeted: “We’re disappointed in Mark Latham’s #MWF15 appearance today. Not the respectful conversation we value.”After the session the festival tweeted: “We’re disappointed in Mark Latham’s #MWF15 appearance today. Not the respectful conversation we value.”
Latham repeatedly abused Green, an ABC journalist and author, calling him an “ABC wanker”, a “bigot” and a “deviant”, and refused to be interrupted.Latham repeatedly abused Green, an ABC journalist and author, calling him an “ABC wanker”, a “bigot” and a “deviant”, and refused to be interrupted.
“It was a little mini festival of dangerous ideas,” a shaken Green told Guardian Australia after it was over. “It started in the green room with a Howard-facsimile handshake where he told me we were going to rumble and we did.“It was a little mini festival of dangerous ideas,” a shaken Green told Guardian Australia after it was over. “It started in the green room with a Howard-facsimile handshake where he told me we were going to rumble and we did.
“I think it was disrespectful of the audience who paid good money – probably out of respect for his work, which is something I in large part share.”“I think it was disrespectful of the audience who paid good money – probably out of respect for his work, which is something I in large part share.”
Green will replay some of the Latham session on his Sunday Extra program on Sunday morning on ABC Radio National.Green will replay some of the Latham session on his Sunday Extra program on Sunday morning on ABC Radio National.
Latham’s appearance came the day after the editor-in-chief of the Australian Financial Review Michael Stutchbury blamed transgender military officer Catherine McGregor for stirring up a media storm which led to Latham’s resignation.Latham’s appearance came the day after the editor-in-chief of the Australian Financial Review Michael Stutchbury blamed transgender military officer Catherine McGregor for stirring up a media storm which led to Latham’s resignation.
Witnesses told Guardian Australia Latham’s obscenity-filled rant was full of slurs against McGregor and News Corp journalist Sharri Markson that were too defamatory to repeat.Witnesses told Guardian Australia Latham’s obscenity-filled rant was full of slurs against McGregor and News Corp journalist Sharri Markson that were too defamatory to repeat.
Crikey’s media writer Myriam Robin, who was live blogging the event, said she couldn’t report many of Latham’s statements because they may be “legally actionable”.Crikey’s media writer Myriam Robin, who was live blogging the event, said she couldn’t report many of Latham’s statements because they may be “legally actionable”.
Latham refused to answer Green’s question about whether he was behind the @RealMarkLatham Twitter account, which tweeted obscenities about McGregor and attacked other prominent women.Latham refused to answer Green’s question about whether he was behind the @RealMarkLatham Twitter account, which tweeted obscenities about McGregor and attacked other prominent women.
He said his family believed he would be “crazy to spill your story for free to a wanker like Jonathan Green ... You should sign up to the commercial opportunities. Which, of course, I have.”He said his family believed he would be “crazy to spill your story for free to a wanker like Jonathan Green ... You should sign up to the commercial opportunities. Which, of course, I have.”
A spokeswoman for Nine, which had once employed Latham as a guest reporter on 60 Minutes said he had not been signed to tell his story.A spokeswoman for Nine, which had once employed Latham as a guest reporter on 60 Minutes said he had not been signed to tell his story.
Latham said he was left alone when he wrote about politicians but when he started writing about leftwing women and class, people started complaining about him.Latham said he was left alone when he wrote about politicians but when he started writing about leftwing women and class, people started complaining about him.
“There were no complaints about me touching up warlords,” Latham said. “But now, howls of complaints about raising the rich girls.“There were no complaints about me touching up warlords,” Latham said. “But now, howls of complaints about raising the rich girls.
“The defamation action, the petition to get me kicked off the paper, the reader boycotts and third-party interference to get me off the paper ... it’s not a comfortable environment, but tell you what, it taught me … It taught me that class is still alive and well in Australian politics”.“The defamation action, the petition to get me kicked off the paper, the reader boycotts and third-party interference to get me off the paper ... it’s not a comfortable environment, but tell you what, it taught me … It taught me that class is still alive and well in Australian politics”.
“Westpac has links with heiresses, multi-millionaires, privileged elites. They’ve been running a campaign for 10 months against my democratic freedom to express my opinion.”“Westpac has links with heiresses, multi-millionaires, privileged elites. They’ve been running a campaign for 10 months against my democratic freedom to express my opinion.”
Journalist and medical student Lisa Pryor is suing Latham for defamation.Journalist and medical student Lisa Pryor is suing Latham for defamation.