Mark Latham’s AVO fight escalates as billionaire Richard White moves to block subpoena

Mark Latham’s lawyer, Zali Burrows, said she was “very confident” the NSW MP would defeat an application for an apprehended violence order against him from his former girlfriend, Nathalie Matthews.

The high-profile case was back in court on Wednesday morning, although neither Mr Latham nor Ms Matthews was present for the procedural hearing.

Sydney billionaire Richard White was represented by a lawyer, who told the court the WiseTech Global founder plans to oppose a subpoena sought by Mr Latham covering messages between him and Ms Matthews.

If the subpoena is issued by the court, Mr White’s lawyer said he plans to seek a suppression order covering the contents, which means the public might not be able to learn what the two said to each other.

Ms Matthews has alleged in the AVO application that the NSW upper house MP forced her into degrading sexual acts and subjected her to psychological abuse. Mr Latham has told journalists that the pair had a healthy sex life in what he described as a “situationship” and that he never abused her. He has alleged that she operated an account on the OnlyFans website, which is used by sex workers.

Mr Latham, the leader of the federal Labor Party from 2003 to 2005, is an influential independent member of the Legislative Council, where no party has a majority.

Mr White has been dragged into the dispute by Mr Latham, who has asked for copies of emails, texts and OnlyFans messages between Mr White and Ms Matthews, who reportedly began communicating through LinkedIn in 2023.

Ms Matthews’ lawyer, Daniel Wakim, said she would fight the release of her records to Mr Latham’s lawyers, although Ms Burrows told Magistrate Susan Horan “there may be some negotiation” over the subpoenas. The case will return to court on September 10 for another procedural hearing.

Some 15 journalists, cameramen and photographers waited outside the court for the lawyers to emerge.