Australian Public Broadcaster Ordered to Pay $70,000 for Unlawful Dismissal of Radio Host

The court found ABC dismissed Lattouf for expressing political views after she reposted claims Israel was weaponising starvation during the Gaza conflict.

Logos for Australia's public broadcaster ABC are seen in Sydney, Australia, on Sept. 27, 2018. SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images

The ABC has been ordered to pay $70,000 in compensation to journalist Antoinette Lattouf after the Federal Court found the broadcaster unlawfully terminated her short-term contract following a social media post about the Israel-Gaza war.

Lattouf, a casual host hired for a five-day stint on ABC Radio Sydney in December 2023, was removed from the air two days into the role after sharing a Human Rights Watch post that accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon in Gaza—an allegation Israel denies.

Justice Darryl Rangiah ruled on June 25 that Lattouf’s removal constituted an unlawful dismissal, rejecting the ABC’s argument that she was not technically fired since she was paid in full.

A potential fine against the broadcaster will be considered at a later hearing.

Termination Tied to Political Views, Says Court

Lattouf took her case to the Fair Work Commission last year, which ruled she had been terminated, paving the way for her Federal Court action.

In court, she argued that her dismissal was based on her political opinions and cultural background, although the judge did not uphold the racial discrimination claim.

Rangiah found that the dismissal stemmed from her views on the Israeli military campaign, shared through a repost of content from a credible human rights organisation.

While ABC management had initially advised Lattouf to limit her social media activity during her time on air, she said her supervisor had agreed she could post content from reputable sources.

The Human Rights Watch post—reporting that Israel’s military actions in Gaza involved using starvation as a war tactic—was also covered by ABC’s own news division.

The post was shared by Lattouf on her second day hosting the morning programme, and she was told to leave the ABC the following afternoon.

Dismissal Sparks Public Backlash

Lattouf, a long-time media contributor, said her removal created reputational harm and triggered a storm of public criticism aimed at the ABC.

Her dismissal sparked concerns over the broadcaster’s commitment to supporting culturally diverse staff and maintaining editorial independence.

During hearings, the court was told that the decision to remove her came 48 hours into a targeted campaign by a pro-Israeli group that sent complaints to senior ABC executives, including then-chair Ita Buttrose.

The journalist alleged the decision was influenced by external pressure, naming Buttrose, former Managing Director David Anderson, and ex-Content Chief Chris Oliver-Taylor as responsible.

She also criticised the ABC for leaking her removal to the media before she was able to return home.

An article in The Australian revealed her exit on the same day it occurred, which she said worsened the damage to her reputation.

Court documents revealed internal ABC criticism of capital city radio head Steve Ahern, who was accused of failing to properly assess Lattouf’s background before hiring her.

While the ABC maintained it acted within reason by removing Lattouf for breaching internal directions, the court ultimately found she was dismissed because of her expressed political views, ruling in her favour.

AAP contributed to this article.