Latham 'destroys camera'

Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper intends to seek A$12,000 ($13,350) from former Labor leader Mark Latham after he allegedly seized and destroyed one of its cameras.

Editor David Penberthy told Southern Cross Radio in Melbourne the former federal opposition leader and MP also threw a punch at photographer Ross Schultz, injuring his wrist, before fleeing with his camera.

The incident happened at Campbelltown, in Sydney's south-west yesterday, as the newspaper prepared a story to mark the first anniversary of Latham's political downfall.

Schultz began photographing Latham as he emerged from a restaurant, where he had been having lunch with his sons Oliver and Issac.

"He basically came charging out of Hungry Jack's like a bull at a gate, asked the photographer who he was and Ross said 'I'm Ross Schultz from the Daily Telegraph'," Penberthy said.

"And Latham started screaming at him saying you're a paedophile, you're a paedophile.

"We've got a couple of witnesses who were there ... he grabbed the camera, threw a punch but didn't land any."

Penberthy said Latham then put his children in the car and drove home, where he allegedly destroyed the camera.

He said the paper would probably not take legal action over the attack on Schultz but would pursue Latham for the cost of the camera.

- AAP