Court says Australian broadcaster ABC wrongfully dismissed journalist

Wed Jun 25 10:34:45 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) unlawfully fired radio journalist Antoinette Lattouf in December 2023 for expressing views supporting Palestine and criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. A court ruled the dismissal violated employment law, citing her political opinions as the reason for her termination. ABC has apologized and will pay Lattouf compensation. The case is part of a wider trend of journalists and employees being fired globally for expressing solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.

**News Article:**

**ABC Found to Have Unlawfully Fired Journalist Over Pro-Palestine Views**

Sydney, Australia – The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has been found to have unlawfully dismissed radio journalist Antoinette Lattouf in December 2023 for expressing views supporting Palestine on social media. A court ruled that the termination violated employment law, as Lattouf was fired for her political opinions regarding Israel’s war on Gaza.

The case stemmed from a social media post Lattouf made referencing a Human Rights Watch report accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. The ABC, according to the court ruling, panicked over the post and swiftly removed Lattouf from her role.

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks issued an apology, stating the decision to remove Lattouf was mishandled and did not align with the broadcaster’s values and expectations. The ABC has been ordered to pay Lattouf $70,000 AUD in compensation, with further financial penalties pending.

Lattouf’s case highlights a growing trend of journalists facing repercussions for expressing pro-Palestinian sentiments. Similar incidents include the firing of a sports reporter in Philadelphia, a journalist in Canada, and an employee of a German media company. Even tech giants like Google and Microsoft have dismissed employees for pro-Palestine activism, raising concerns about freedom of speech and the right to express political opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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