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.