By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

The reporter was removed from her five-day casual contract in December 2023 after reposting a Human Rights Watch video on Instagram on Israel’s use of starvation as a tool of war in Gaza.

A federal court judge has ordered the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to $150,000 in penalties to a journalist who was fired over a social media post about Israel’s ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Judge Darryl Rangiah found that the state broadcaster’s decision to fire Antoinette Lattouf was made to appease pro-Israeli lobbyists, according to an ABC report. Her employment was also unlawfully terminated 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.” Justice Rangiah said. https://t.co/Xo7nkaFpAe

— MEAA (@withMEAA) September 24, 2025

Lattouf was taken off air and removed from her five-day casual contract in December 2023 after reposting a Human Rights Watch video on Instagram on Israel’s use of starvation as a tool of war in Gaza.

Her post read: “HRW reporting starvation as a tool of war.”

Serious Consequences

In his decision, Rangiah emphasized the severity of the broadcaster’s actions, noting that such dismissals have serious consequences on an individual’s professional and personal well-being.

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

The total amount ordered to be paid to Lattouf amounts to $220,000 after she was previously awarded $70,000 “in compensation for non-economic loss,” ABC reported.

Justice Rangiah in his own words in Lattouf v ABC penalty decision.

The broadcaster has been ordered to pay $150,000. I was previously awarded $70,000 for hurt and distress.

ABC has spent in excess of $2 million on legal fees.

The real cost to Aunty is immeasurable. pic.twitter.com/ICE0exOGbZ

— Antoinette Lattouf (@antoinette_news) September 24, 2025

Lattouf said in a statement that the ABC has, to date, “spent well over two million dollars 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,” she stated. “I hope the ABC takes this opportunity to restore credibility, regain trust, and re-establish integrity, because our democracy depends on a strong fourth estate.”

ABC’s Apology

ABC’s Managing Director, Hugh Marks, said the broadcaster would “reflect on the court’s findings,” admitting it was “not handled in line with our values and expectations and Ms Lattouf, our staff and the public were let down.”

Thanks ⁦@withMEAA⁩ for standing by me, ⁦@antoinette_news⁩ and ⁦@MaryKostakidis⁩

And thanks to the colleagues/public who’ve stood by me, that said, please reserve your sympathy and energy for the victims of Israel’s atrocious genocide https://t.co/7quRbNCN3L

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) September 24, 2025

“We take the matter seriously and have reflected on the lessons learned and their implications. We must be better,” Marks said.

He reiterated ABC’s “sincere apology to Ms Lattouf.”

Rise in Threats, Intimidation

The Media Entertainment Arts Alliance in Australia said in a statement on Wednesday that since October 7, 2023, the union body has seen a rise in threats, harassment, and intimidation of journalists who report and comment on Gaza.

Recognition of Palestine: What the UK, Canada, and Australia’s Move Really Means

“High-profile journalists including Antoinette Lattouf, Peter Lalor and Mary Kostakidis have found themselves dismissed, censored and harassed by powerful lobby groups, who seek to undermine press freedom,” the statement added. “When reporting, MEAA journalists are subject to the code of ethics, who in their professional capacity, often provide critical commentary on political warfare. These are the tenets of democracy.”

(PC, Al Mayadeen)