Court Decides Antoinette Lattouf's Unlawful Termination Case Against ABC

Antoinette Lattouf is suing the ABC, alleging unlawful termination influenced by her political opinions on the Israel-Gaza conflict and her Middle Eastern descent, after being removed from a five-day radio contract. The ABC's defense, led by Ian Neil SC, asserts that Lattouf was taken off-air for violating directives not to post on social media about sensitive issues, and not due to her political views or race. The case hinges on whether expressing a political opinion equates to holding that opinion, with Justice Darryl Rangiah highlighting this as a critical legal distinction. Lattouf's barristers argue that her removal constituted a termination, as she was told to leave and perform no further work, while ABC contends she was not officially terminated. The decision involved senior ABC executives, with allegations that external pressures, including media inquiries, influenced the outcome. The court is set to deliberate on the evidence presented, following the conclusion of the closing arguments.