Independent MP Mark Latham has been served with a bankruptcy notice during  a day at the races at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse.

The former One Nation NSW leader was reportedly heading to the exit when he was approached by a man who handed him a stack of papers.

A News Corp reporter who was covering The Golden Eagle horse race event spotted the interaction and approached Latham for comment.

Latham lashed out and told the journalist to stop being a “nosy dickhead”.

“I don’t know what it is, I haven’t looked at it,” Latham said when asked what was in the bundle.

The reporter asked Latham if he would pay the debt.

“I don’t think it’s any of your business mate,” he responded.

“It’s in the hands of my lawyer, okay, that’s all you need to know.”

The Daily Telegraph later confirmed that Latham has been served with a bankruptcy notice for more than $170,000 in damages and interest by representatives of Sydney MP Alex Greenwich.

In September 2024, Latham was found to have defamed Greenwich in an explicit tweet during the 2023 state election.

Latham posted the tweet – which described a sex act – in response to a news article in which Greenwich described Latham as a “disgusting human being”.

The Federal Court found the post exposed Greenwich, who is gay and a vocal LGBTQI advocate, to hatred and ridicule.

Latham was ordered to pay $140,000 in damages as well as an estimated $400,000 to cover much of Greenwich’s legal costs.

He has been appealing the decision.

Greenwich did not comment on the bankruptcy serving when contacted by the Sydney Morning Herald.

He pointed to a statement he made when the High Court dismissed Latham’s final appeal in October.

“Mr Latham defamed me in a sexually aggressive social media post that subjected me to an avalanche of homophobic hate,” the statement said.

“Mr Latham has repeatedly refused to take responsibility for his actions, instead pursuing appeals through the courts.”

Latham has 21 days to close the outstanding debt and can declare himself officially bankrupt if he cannot pay.

Under the NSW Constitution Act 1902, MPs who become bankrupt must have their seat declared vacant.

–with AAP