ABC ordered to pay A$220,000 over Lattouf sacking

The Federal Court ordered the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to pay journalist Antoinette Lattouf A$150,000 in pecuniary penalties for unlawfully terminating her after she reposted a Human Rights Watch video alleging Israel used starvation as a tool of war in Gaza, on top of A$70,000 previously awarded, bringing the total to about A$220,000 payable within 28 days. Justice Darryl Rangiah found the ABC breached the Fair Work Act and its enterprise agreement, saying the broadcaster “abjectly surrendered” to a coordinated pro‑Israel lobby and that the dismissal had very significant consequences for Lattouf. Lattouf was removed three days into a week‑long casual hosting stint on ABC Radio Sydney’s Mornings show in December 2023 and said the case was about accountability and the integrity of public broadcasting. Lattouf’s lawyers had sought roughly A$300,000–A$350,000 in penalties while the ABC argued for a much lower figure. Lattouf said the ABC spent well over A$2 million defending the case; ABC managing director Hugh Marks apologised and said the corporation would reflect on the findings. The court said substantial penalties were necessary to deter similar conduct and rejected reputational concerns as justification for unlawful treatment of staff.