Climate 200, the campaign group behind the rise of the teal independents, is fundraising to help cover the costs of New South Wales independent MP Alex Greenwich’s legal action against Mark Latham.
Last Monday Greenwich gave the NSW One Nation party leader a two-week deadline – until 17 May – to publicly and unreservedly apologise for homophobic comments he made before facing a defamation action in which “maximum damages” will be sought.
Latham has refused to apologise for a graphic tweet he posted and deleted on 30 March, which Greenwich described as “defamatory and homophobic” and attracted widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Greenwich, the MP for Sydney, said Climate 200’s support was consistent with the group’s focus on integrity in politics and equality.
The initial fundraising target is $100,000 to cover legal fees but Greenwich said this could increase.
“Climate 200’s support in this important legal battle will help me stand up to Mr Latham’s homophobic attacks, seek justice, and send a clear message that LGBTQIA+ Australians shouldn’t have to put up with vilifying abuse,” he said.
“This is a serious matter, [which] will be costly financially [and] emotionally, and their support helps provide me with the strength and encouragement to keep me going.”
If Greenwich’s claim is successful, his legal team believes Latham would be forced out of parliament under NSW law.
Byron Fay, the executive director of Climate 200, said the organisation had approached Greenwich with the offer to fundraise, adding that it was “not only about helping great independents get elected. We’re also about supporting them when they need it.”
“Alex has taken the brave step to stand up for what’s right, and our community wanted to help him, just as we did at the recent NSW state election,” he said. “No one should have to suffer vile, homophobic abuse, especially from another member of parliament.”
According to Climate 200’s platform for the fundraiser, if more money is raised than Greenwich’s legal needs, it will be donated to an LGBTQIA+ rights organisation, and will be used to “ensure we have strong climate, integrity and equality-focused community independents across Australia”.
Prof Stewart Jackson, an expert in politics at the University of Sydney, said it was “odd” to see Climate 200 getting involved in the dispute, given that Greenwich is not a teal independent.
“It looks as though Climate 200 are making themselves much more of a political player by supporting progressive independents more generally and that’s an interesting shift,” he said.
Climate 200 was unable to fund its state candidates to the same extent as its federal candidates due to NSW election donation caps. Jackson said the organisation might be looking for other ways to boost its profile in the state.
Climate 200 supported Judy Hannan who won Wollondilly in the NSW election, though Hannan does not consider herself to be a teal independent.
Prof Graeme Orr, an expert in parliamentary law at the University of Queensland, said Climate 200’s fundraiser was unlikely to be considered a political donation under the NSW electoral funding act because the benefit was not substantially for Greenwich’s election or duties as MP.
Orr said Greenwich would be required to disclose the source of the fundraiser on the pecuniary interest register but not the amount.
The NSW government has vowed not to work with Latham this term of parliament, and the state’s opposition, along with the federal One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, have called for him to apologise to Greenwich.
At the time the comments were made, Hanson posted a video to social media decrying the comments.
Latham has been contacted for comment.
• This article was amended on 12 May 2023 to clarify that Climate 200 backed Judy Hannan in the NSW election, not Michael Regan as an earlier version said.
