Mark Latham’s former partner Nathalie Mathews has denied receiving insider trading tips from tech billionaire Richard White and accused the one-time Labor leader of seriously damaging her “professional reputation”.
The former Liberal council candidate claimed Mr Latham, who also briefly led One Nation in NSW, of “false and defamatory” statements, including that she was paid $145,000 by Mr White and had “punched me (Mr Latham) in the head in a zombie-like drunken and drugged attack” after they broke up in a citizens reply tabled in NSW parliament last week.
Ms Matthews, who is fighting unrelated revenge porn allegations, said Mr Latham had mentioned her name on 44 occasions during a debate in the NSW upper house on November 12.
“Those remarks have seriously damaged my professional reputation,” Ms Matthews said.
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The 38-year-old denied allegations of a drunken attack, stating she “never punched Mr Latham and I was not under the influence of any prescribed drug or illicit narcotic”.
Ms Matthews went on to deny any sexual relations with businessman Paul Byrne, or that he paid for her flight to London.
In regard to Mr White, Ms Matthews denied ever receiving $145,000 from the WiseTech co-founder or that he gave her any insider information, and said she had never received any correspondence or legal notice from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in regard to allegations of insider information.
She said the comments had led to negative media coverage and impinged her character.
The Privileges Committee agreed to release Ms Matthew’s reply, with a dissenting opinion from independent MLC Rod Roberts who argued it was “frivolous and vexatious and it contains inaccuracies”.
Mr Latham has been dogged by controversy since an apprehended violence order was lodged by Ms Matthews last year, alleging he defecated on her and engaged in domestic abuse – allegations he has denied.
