ABC โSpent โขOver $2.5 Million Defending Antoinette Lattouf legal Action
Sydney, Australia โ- Teh Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) spent moreโ than $2.5โ million defending legal action brought by former โradio presenter Antoinette Lattouf, according to evidence presented to a Senate Estimates hearing today. Theโ figure includes both โขinternal and external โคcosts associated with the case, which stemmed fromโข Lattouf’s removal from air during a five-day presenting contract in December 2023.
The Federal Court previously found the ABC breached the Fair Work Act by removing Lattouf,โ determining the decision was made, in part, to appease pro-Israel lobbyists following a campaign of complaints. Justice Darryl Rangiah found the ABC unlawfully terminated Lattouf’s employment forโ reasonsโค “including that she โฃheld a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.”
ABCโค Managing Director Davidโ Marks acknowledged the significant expenditure and stated, “This was all there to be avoided; it is not a โฃgood reflection on the organisation.” He added theโค ABC had learned from theโข matter,โ emphasizing the need to be “calm โขunder โpressure” and “follow our processes,” as โคwell as clarifying decision-making โขauthority within theโ organization.
“There seemed to be many failings in the Lattouf matter,” Marks said. “It should have been done โbetter, and it wasn’t.”
Following โthe โcourt’sโค ruling, Lattoufโฃ postedโ on social โmedia that the case was not about โfinancial gain for her, and alleged the ABC had spent “well overโข $2 million of taxpayer money”โ on its defense. The newly revealed figure of over $2.5 million confirmsโ the substantial financialโข burden theโค case placed on the national broadcaster.