Mark Latham's AVO fight with ex-partner Nathalie Matthews, 'likely to settle'

An application for an apprehended violence order brought against controversial MP Mark Latham by his ex-partner is “very much likely to settle”, a court has been told.

Nathalie May Matthews, 38, applied for a private AVO to protect her from the one-time federal Labor opposition leader after accusing him of years of manipulation and sustained abuse.

Mr Latham, who now sits as an independent in the NSW upper house, denied the allegations and has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

After three months of negotiations, Ms Matthews’ lawyer said the parties were nearing an agreement.

“(We are) very much likely to settle and resolve the matters in their entirety,” Daniel Wakim told Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday.

He withdrew an application for an interim AVO which, if granted, would have protected Ms Matthews until the matter returned to court for a three-day hearing in May 2026.

A bid for a non-publication order over the court dispute was also withdrawn as the matter continues towards a possible settlement.

Outside court, Mr Wakim said the terms of the proposed agreement would remain confidential as Ms Matthews and Mr Latham continue to negotiate.

“Discussions are ongoing,” he said.

“Everything else is proceeding in its usual course.”

Mr Latham took to social media on Tuesday to claim the AVO had been withdrawn in its entirety.

“I was due in the Sydney Local Court tomorrow for the latest instalment in the private AVO application against me,” he wrote on X.

“But it has now been delisted and the application withdrawn ... that’s the end of that.”

But Ms Matthews’ application for a longer-term AVO is still on foot and will return to court in December.

Mr Latham has served as an independent MP since 2023 after a falling out with One National head Pauline Hanson, leading to his departure as the party’s state leader.

He helped the right-wing party return to state politics in 2019, 15 years after his failed attempt to lead Labor to federal election victory.

The MP has been embroiled in several recent scandals, including taking photos of female MPs without their knowledge, for which he has apologised.

Calls to remove his official portrait from Labor’s federal party room resulted in the addition of a sign which explains he has been barred from the party for life.

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