'He is a pig': Female MPs react to allegations Latham photographed them

The former federal Labor leader sent pictures he had taken of female MPs alongside derogatory remarks about their appearance to his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews, according to allegations in The Daily Telegraph on July 17.

Mr Latham declined to comment on the new allegations when he was contacted by ACM, the publisher of this masthead.

Ms Matthew has claimed in a domestic violence application order that Mr Latham engaged in "sustained abuse" including emotional, psychological and financial manipulation.

This involved pressuring her to have sex with other people and participate in depraved acts.

Housing Minister Rose Jackson told reporters on July 17 that Mr Latham was a "pig" who should be sacked for his behaviour.

Labor's leader of the upper house, Penny Sharpe, said Mr Latham's conduct has been "appalling" and a breach of the parliament, in an interview with ABC radio.

"When we're sitting in the parliament, we're supposed to be actually deliberating and working on behalf of the people of NSW," she said.

On July 16, Premier Chris Minns said it was inappropriate for MPs to sext from the parliamentary floor after revelations that Mr Latham had engaged in the practice while in the chamber.

Mr Minns said he was "hopeful of wide, cross-party support" for a censure motion of Mr Latham for misconduct when parliament returns in August.

Ms Sharpe has previously moved a motion to refer Mr Latham to the privileges committee for reading out psychiatric reports about MP Alex Greenwich, who won a defamation action against Mr Latham.

Liberal MLC Susan Carter, who was one of the women targeted in photographs, said on July 17: "Every person deserves respect and I expect that respect to be extended to me and every person in every workplace in NSW."

Ms Carter said she was "so disappointed that in the 21st century we are still having to say, 'women should be respected at work' and we should be respected for what we bring to the workplace, not what we are wearing, not what we look like...".

She said Mr Latham called and apologised late on July 17.

"I appreciate the apology - now it's time to get on with the job people expect us to do," Ms Carter said.

Mr Latham told Chris Smith on 2SM on July 16, "none" of the abuse allegations were true and accused the media of engaging in "slap happy journalism".

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He said the text messages were inaccurate and lacked context, including a reference to him forcing Ms Matthews to wear a "tracker" to monitor her movements so he could find a "f*** parlour".

Mr Latham said: "Just about all of the things she (Ms Matthews) is complaining about, she initiated in consensual arrangements".

He defended 'sexting' Ms Matthews while in the parliamentary chamber.

"If you are sitting there and listening to Penny Sharpe droning on and then a woman who looks like Nathalie Matthews sends you a message, which one would you pay attention to?" he said.

"If I am the only person in Australia in a work environment who has engaged in a bit of playful sex talk with a partner, I will buy everyone a lottery ticket.

"The big news is I had a private life. I had a sex life, and I've got to say it was fantastic."

Mr Latham served as the leader of the Labor Party and leader of the opposition from December 2003 to January 2005, famously losing the 2004 election to John Howard.

He left the ALP in 2017 and joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in 2018, gaining a seat in the NSW upper house at the 2019 election.

He has two sons with his second wife, Janine Lacy.

The pair separated in 2022.