In a significant ruling, the Federal Court of Australia determined that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) dismissal of journalist Antoinette Lattouf was illegal, primarily due to her vocal criticism of Israel's military operations in Gaza.
**Australian Court Rules Journalist's Dismissal Over Israel Criticism Unlawful**
**Australian Court Rules Journalist's Dismissal Over Israel Criticism Unlawful**
An Australian court deemed the ABC's firing of journalist Antoinette Lattouf unlawful due to her critical stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Lattouf's dismissal sparked considerable debate within the ABC regarding the editorial independence and bias in coverage of the conflict in Gaza.
The article text follows:
On June 25, 2025, an Australian court confirmed that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the country's primary public broadcaster, had wrongfully terminated journalist Antoinette Lattouf. The dismissal occurred after she raised concerns via social media about Israel's military strategy in Gaza, following a Human Rights Watch report that accused Israel of using starvation as a tactic in the conflict.
Justice Darryl Rangiah of the Federal Court ruled that Lattouf's political opinions were a factor in her dismissal, indicating that the ABC's actions violated Australian labor laws. The broadcaster argued that Lattouf, a freelance contractor, had breached social media guidelines, stating that she was never technically "fired." However, the Court mandated the ABC to compensate Lattouf with 70,000 Australian dollars (approximately 45,500 USD), with potential for further penalties following additional legal processes.
Lattouf, known for her outspoken views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, had only been hosting the “Sydney Mornings” radio show for three days when she was taken off the air. The court's findings highlighted a backlash against her work, which the judge referred to as an "orchestrated campaign" against her perceived partiality, leading to accusations of antisemitism from listeners. This case has ignited discussions in Australia regarding journalistic freedom, the role of public broadcasting, and the influence of social media in shaping narratives around contentious global issues.
The article text follows:
On June 25, 2025, an Australian court confirmed that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the country's primary public broadcaster, had wrongfully terminated journalist Antoinette Lattouf. The dismissal occurred after she raised concerns via social media about Israel's military strategy in Gaza, following a Human Rights Watch report that accused Israel of using starvation as a tactic in the conflict.
Justice Darryl Rangiah of the Federal Court ruled that Lattouf's political opinions were a factor in her dismissal, indicating that the ABC's actions violated Australian labor laws. The broadcaster argued that Lattouf, a freelance contractor, had breached social media guidelines, stating that she was never technically "fired." However, the Court mandated the ABC to compensate Lattouf with 70,000 Australian dollars (approximately 45,500 USD), with potential for further penalties following additional legal processes.
Lattouf, known for her outspoken views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, had only been hosting the “Sydney Mornings” radio show for three days when she was taken off the air. The court's findings highlighted a backlash against her work, which the judge referred to as an "orchestrated campaign" against her perceived partiality, leading to accusations of antisemitism from listeners. This case has ignited discussions in Australia regarding journalistic freedom, the role of public broadcasting, and the influence of social media in shaping narratives around contentious global issues.
