‘Saw fear in their faces’: The reason Alex Greenwich had a change of heart

Sydney independent MP Alex Greenwich was considering new jobs last year, plotting a career outside public life for the first time in two decades. He was not going to run for parliament again.

Greenwich, who many thought would replace his political mentor Clover Moore as Sydney lord mayor, did not have his eyes on that job. Rather, he intended to quit politics altogether.

But he has abandoned those plans and will instead recontest his seat, which he has held since 2012.

“This time last year I was preparing to leave public life after 20 years,” Greenwich said.

“Since then with the support of counselling, family, friends and colleagues, I’ve built back my confidence and my sense of purpose for my role has been reignited.”

The openly gay man, who led the Yes campaign for marriage equality, had been battered and bruised as he took on rogue MP Mark Latham in a series of court battles after the one-time federal Labor leader tweeted a highly graphic and homophobic remark about Greenwich in 2023.

Greenwich won his defamation case against Latham (who is appealing against the ruling) but the hate that was directed his way from others had worn him down. Greenwich had had enough of fighting.

But the Bondi massacre on December 14 and the rise of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in published polls upturned Greenwich’s plans. He needed to stay in politics and fight “for the sensible centre”.

Greenwich said that following some wins, including numerous AVOs issued against people who have threatened him, and “rulings in my favour in the Latham matters”, he feels ready to kick some goals.

“Ultimately, the rise in support for One Nation got me across the line to run again. I’ve seen how the far right can destabilise politics, and [how] a sensible centrist crossbench [can provide] stability in minority governments,” he said.

Greenwich also saw, for the first time, that people were afraid in NSW.

“I had a moment at the memorial to victims of the Bondi antisemitic terrorist attack, where I looked at the faces in the crowd, and saw fear, and that people were scared, and I’ve never seen that before, and I hope I can play a role supporting the government to make people feel safe again.”

Greenwich, who replaced Moore as the Sydney MP after the then-Coalition government passed so-called “get Clover laws”, said he felt a responsibility to “confront the troubled political waters ahead, to negotiate and compromise, like we did with workers comp, and to ensure fringe political forces don’t cause chaos in NSW”.

“As the only gay member of the lower house, I’m often reminded that if you are not at the table, you are on the menu, and hard-fought wins like abortion decriminalisation, voluntary assisted dying and LGBTQ rights can, and have, come under attack.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.