Australian Broadcasting Corporation Fined Extra $150,000 Over Sacking of Lattouf

Federal Court rules broadcaster unlawfully dismissed journalist to appease lobby groups, imposing $150,000 fine.

Antoinette Lattouf speaks to the media during a doorstop at the Federal Court in Sydney, Australia, on June 25, 2025. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) now owes journalist Antoinette Lattouf $220,000 after the Federal Court imposed an additional $150,000 penalty over her unlawful removal from a Sydney radio contract.

The latest penalty, imposed on Sept. 24, comes on top of the $70,000 in compensation already awarded to Lattouf for non-economic loss. The ABC must pay the penalty within 28 days.

The case centred on her abrupt dismissal in December 2023 during a five-day contract at ABC Radio Sydney, after she shared a Human Rights Watch post on Instagram about starvation in Gaza being used as a weapon of war.

Justice Darryl Rangiah ruled the termination was unlawful under the Fair Work Act, finding the ABC acted to placate pro-Israel lobbyists who had orchestrated a campaign of complaints.

He said the broadcaster had unlawfully dismissed Lattouf for reasons “including that she held a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.”

“The ABC let down the Australian public badly when it abjectly surrendered the rights of its employee Ms. Lattouf to appease a lobby group.”

‘Human Consequences’ Of Termination

The court was also asked to rule on the number of separate breaches of the Fair Work Act and its clauses.

Justice Rangiah emphasised the broader damage of wrongful dismissals, warning: “The ABC and others cannot be allowed to regard a penalty as an acceptable price to pay for staving off criticism over the employment of an employee by engaging in unlawful conduct against that employee.”

He added, “For most people, employment is not just a source of income, but contributes substantially to their sense of purpose, identity and self-worth.

“The unlawful termination of their employment for alleged misconduct, particularly where the employee has been given no chance to defend themselves against the accusations made, can be devastating. The human consequences of the unlawful termination of employment ought not be underestimated.”

Lattouf: ‘It Was Never About Money’

Lattouf said the case had never been about money.

In a social media post a day before the verdict she wrote, “To date the ABC has spent well over $2 million of taxpayer money fighting me. Whatever the penalty, for me this was never about money — it’s always been about accountability and the integrity of the information our public broadcaster gives us.”

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks, who was not in the role at the time of the incident, admitted the matter had been mishandled.

“It was not handled in line with our values and expectations and Lattouf, our staff and the public were let down. We take the matter seriously and have reflected on the lessons learned and their implications. We must be better,” Marks said in a statement.

He reiterated the ABC’s apology to the journalist and wished her best for her future.