The ABC has been issued a $150,000 penalty over the unlawful termination of Antoinette Lattouf.
The $150k is in addition to a $70,000 compensation figure awarded to Lattouf by Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah when he delivered his principal decision on June 25th.
The amount is less than half the $350,000 figure Lattouf called for at a hearing earlier this month, with the ABC submitting a lower penalty of between $37,560 and $56,340. The ABC argued that lower figure would be “just and appropriate,” as the maximum penalty available is $187,800.
The ABC has 28 days to pay the fine.
ABC Managing Director, Hugh Marks responded to the news in a statement today.
“The ABC acknowledges today’s Federal Court decision on penalties in the matter involving Antoinette Lattouf and will continue to reflect on the Court’s findings,” it reads.
“This matter has been deeply felt at the ABC. As I’ve said previously, it was not handled in line with our values and expectations and Ms 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.
Love Film & TV?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in music, film and TV in Australia and abroad.
“I would like to reiterate the ABC’s sincere apology to Ms Lattouf and wish her all the best in the future.”
In a statement earlier this morning, Lattouf said that the “ABC had 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.
“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.”
Lattouf had been hired in a casual announcer role on ABC Local Radio Sydney’s Mornings show in December 2023. A decision was made to remove her two days early from a planned week-long on-air role following a repost Lattouf published on social media. The repost in question was a Human Rights Watch social media post on Tuesday that alleged the Israeli military was using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza.
Following the initial court ruling in Lattouf’s favour, Marks spoke about plans to update the ABC’s social media guidelines: “Due to confusion expressed about the Personal Use of Social Media Guidelines, which was canvassed during the case, these have been reviewed and will be replaced with new Public Comment Guidelines. We will talk more this about in coming weeks.
“I wish to stress the particular and fundamental obligations the ABC and its employees have to be independent and impartial in our work to ensure we continue to earn the trust of all Australians. Those obligations don’t change as a result of this decision.”