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Portrait of Mark Latham

Mark Latham

Independent · New South Wales · New South Wales Legislative Council · Statewide (NSW) · incumbent

Mark Latham was born on 28 February 1961 in Ashcroft, a suburb of south-western Sydney, New South Wales. He was educated at Hurlstone Public School and Hurlstone Agricultural High School, where he was dux, before attending the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Economics with Honours in 1982. Before entering politics he worked as an adviser to Labor politician John Kerin (1980–1982) and then as a research assistant to former prime minister Gough Whitlam (1982–1987). [source]

Sourced positions

A verified position is the member's own stated view or vote, supported by the listed sources. This page records public statements and conduct only — see methodology.

Faith & religion verified

Mark Latham has described himself as a humanist and, in a 2004 interview, said 'I'm agnostic.' In his 2019 NSW inaugural speech he stated 'I'm not a Christian but I recognise the vital contribution of Christianity to our civilisation.'

Abortion & reproductive policy verified

As a member of the NSW Legislative Council, voted against the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019 (which became the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019, decriminalising abortion in NSW) at the third reading (final passage, 25 Sept 2019), on a conscience vote.

Voluntary assisted dying verified

Mark Latham voted against (Noes) the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 at its third reading in the Legislative Council on 19 May 2022 (Council third reading, which passed 23 votes to 15). The Act was a conscience vote and became the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022 (NSW).

Gender & LGBTQ+ policy verified

One Nation MLC (sat as independent for part of the term) known for vocal opposition to transgender and LGBTIQ measures. He introduced the Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill, which sought to prohibit teaching of 'gender fluidity' in schools, restrict trans students' use of facilities and sports, and require school staff to disclose a student's gender identity to parents; the NSW Government rejected it. During the Conversion Practices Ban Bill 2024 debate he opposed the late-night sitting, calling it a 'shameful tactic' and the 'politics of exhaustion,' and moved a motion to delay the debate. In Sept 2024 the Federal Court ruled a tweet he posted about Alex Greenwich was defamatory and homophobic.

Religious freedom verified

Latham (One Nation MLC) has been a leading parliamentary advocate for religious-freedom and parental-rights legislation in NSW. He introduced the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Freedoms and Equality) Bill, which a NSW parliamentary committee chaired by Gabrielle Upton said had 'merit and could be used as a template for reform'; a version of the religious-freedom bill was defeated in the Legislative Council 29-4 in February 2022, with government and opposition uniting against it. He has also promoted an Education Legislation Amendment (Parental Rights) Bill to restrict teaching about gender, and in March 2023 gave a church speech on 'religious freedom, parental rights, school education.' During the March 2024 conversion-practices debate he opposed the overnight sitting, calling it a 'shameful tactic' and the 'politics of exhaustion.'

Freedom of speech verified

Voted for the second reading of the Roads and Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2022, which created new offences for obstructing major roads and major facilities (Legislative Council, 31 March 2022; Ayes 31, Noes 4). Voted for the third reading of that bill (Legislative Council, 1 April 2022; Ayes 23, Noes 4).

Nuclear & uranium verified

Voted AYE on the second reading of the Uranium Mining and Nuclear Facilities (Prohibitions) Repeal Bill 2025 in the NSW Legislative Council on 6 May 2026 — i.e. voted to repeal NSW's 1986 ban on uranium mining and nuclear facilities. The bill passed 21–19 and was read a third time the same day.

Record last updated 2026-08-13.