Former Federal Labor Leader Mark Latham is no stranger to controversy.

On his Sky News show, Mr Latham said he thought the student, taking part in a video supporting feminism, was gay.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said the comments were “unacceptable” and “bullying” while Mr Birmingham said Mr Latham should pick on someone his own size.

Mr Latham also offended Malcolm Turnbull’s Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet chief Martin Parkinson, accusing the former Treasury head of hiring people based on “genitalia” and whether he could “find out who they’re sleeping with”.

“We’ve got more on Parkinson’s disease,” Latham said on his Sunday show.

“The crazy habit in the Canberra bureaucracy of hiring people on the basis of how they look, the colour of their skin, the shape of their genitalia and if Martin Parkinson can find out who they’re sleeping with.”

Of Mr Latham’s comments about the schoolboy, Mr Birmingham­ said: “He should pick on people his own size rather than having a juvenile go at the sexuality of school­children on national TV.”

Mr Stokes said: “Adults in privileged high-profile commentating roles need to be mindful of the example they set for the community. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable.”

Mr Latham last night stood by his comments, including thinking the boy was gay, saying: “Who wouldn’t think that?”

Originally published as Latham cops it for calling schoolkid ‘gay’