logo
MediaLand Special: Lattouf wins ABC case

MediaLand Special: Lattouf wins ABC case

In a MediaLand special we dissect the ruling for Antoinette Latouff in her case against the ABC this morning.
This morning, the judgement in the case of Antoinette Lattouf vs the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was handed down in the Federal Court of Australia.
Justice Darryl Rangiah ruled that Australian Broadcasting Corporation contravened the Fair Work Act by terminating the employment of the applicant, Antoinette Lattouf, for reasons including that she held a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Her lawyers had also argued that her national extraction and race had played a role in her termination, however Justice Rangiah ruled the executives involved were not motivated by these factors.
The ABC consistently denied she was unlawfully terminated during the hearing process.
The judge ruled that the ABC must pay Ms Lattouf compensation of $70,000. He also ruled that a further hearing will take place in the future to decide on pecuniary compensation.
Guests: Michael Bradley, Director of Marque Law and media commentator
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Queensland Police Union doubles down on 'historic' pay deal despite online backlash
Queensland Police Union doubles down on 'historic' pay deal despite online backlash

ABC News

time29 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Queensland Police Union doubles down on 'historic' pay deal despite online backlash

The head of Queensland's police union has doubled down on his support for a "historic" pay offer for the service, despite the backlash he's received from some members. Queensland Police Union (QPU) president Shane Prior has, however, conceded he should have been more up-front with members with the details of the deal earlier this week. On Tuesday, Mr Prior stood alongside Premier David Crisafulli as the pair announced both sides had reached in-principle agreement on a new pay offer following wage negotiations. That offer included a minimum pay rise of 3 per cent from July 1 this year, followed by a 2.5 per cent hike in July next year, and a 2.5 per cent rise in July 2027. It also included an $8,000 retention bonus to be paid to general duty officers, including constables, senior constables, sergeants, and senior sergeants. Mr Prior has described the offer, which he said was worth $540 million, as the "largest ever" secured for the Queensland Police Service. He said that was $163 million more than the government's "insulting" initial offer, thanks to extra incentives including boosts to shift allowances he and his negotiating team had secured. Since the announcement earlier this week, Mr Prior has been subjected to online criticism. He's characterised some of that backlash as "really hurtful" to him and his family. "I have every faith that once officers see what this agreement is going to deliver for [them] ... I absolutely think that most of our officers will turn around and see that this is a very reasonable deal," he said. While doubling down on the merits of the offer, Mr Prior did apologise to union members for not having immediately provided them with "the appropriate information" about the pay offer until an email sent on Wednesday night. "We're looking to remedy that straight away." Mr Prior has said his next task is to travel around the state and speak to "every single member possible to explain the benefits of the deal". Speaking on Thursday, Mr Prior said the negotiating team had been forced to pivot to securing incentives once it became aware the state government was not going to budge from the 3 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent pay boost per year. He has always been highly critical of that wages offer, which he has called "insulting" to police and all other frontline workers. Mr Prior said the in-principle deal had the unanimous support of the QPU executive, including the endorsement of all regional representatives. If the deal is voted down by union members in September, bargaining may be taken to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) for arbitration. Mr Prior said the union was a democracy and members would have the ultimate say. The state government wage negotiations with both the state's nurses and the state's teachers have been ordered before the IRC. Next week, teachers will strike at state schools for the first time in 16 years, while the nurses' union criticised what they described as a "swift" pay deal for the police.

NT Youth Justice Act changes pass parliament, including reinstatement of spit hoods in youth detention
NT Youth Justice Act changes pass parliament, including reinstatement of spit hoods in youth detention

ABC News

timean hour ago

  • ABC News

NT Youth Justice Act changes pass parliament, including reinstatement of spit hoods in youth detention

A suite of changes to the Youth Justice Act, including a proposal to reinstate the use of spit hoods in youth detention centres almost eight years after the practice was banned, have passed Northern Territory parliament on Thursday evening. Warning: This story contains references to injuries and self-harm. The official list of amendments — which also includes the removal of the principle of detention as a last resort and more powers for youth justice officers to use reasonable force — were introduced to NT parliament on Wednesday and debated on Thursday, after being announced earlier in the week. The changes have been strongly criticised by youth justice advocates, including the NT children's commissioner. During debate on Thursday, Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the government had been working on the new legislation "all year". "It is part of our election commitments that we took to Territorians in August last year [at the NT election] and it is part of our plan to reduce crime right across the Northern Territory," she said. She said the bill included "practical reforms" that would "stop" detainees from assaulting youth justice workers and other young people in detention. The proposed law's explanatory statement says it will allows courts to consider a youth's full criminal history when sentencing for adult offences, and introduces clear authorisation" for the use of spit hoods and waist restraints on youth detainees. "You cannot run a correctional facility and expect your staff to have zero powers to protect themselves or others," Ms Finocchiaro said. "We're going to continue on our path ... to make sure we are putting the rights of people to be safe above all else and [that] our laws are contemporary and meet community expectation, because that is the job of a parliament." Opposition Leader Selena Uibo criticised the government's proposed changes for ignoring the recommendations of the 2017 Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory and the advice of experts. She also criticised the government for not being up-front during its briefing about all elements included the bill, such as giving correctional officers the new ability to use a security dog against a youth detainee. "Almost every one of these measures ... spit hoods, dog control, mechanical restraints, were either explicitly condemned or ruled out by the royal commission," Ms Uibo said. Greens MLA Kat McNamara said when members of the crossbench were briefed, they were told the amendments would lead to "at least 100 more children aged as young as 10 in prison each year". "Children do not belong in prisons and yet this government is shamelessly rushing through these changes without any evidence that they will effectively reduce crime or keep community members safe," she said during debate. "In fact, they know that this goes against the evidence, but they don't care. "This is action for the sake of action, but worse than that, it is cruel, punitive and evidence shows it will only increase rates of recidivism and violent offending." Amendments to the NT's Youth Justice Regulations 2006 also passed, which will see more crimes classified as "serious", making young people who commit them ineligible for youth diversion. Ms Finocchiaro said the government planned to introduce a second set of changes to the Youth Justice Act in coming months, including "to enhance the diversion process and options and provide community service choices for youth boot camps". In a letter sent to the chief minister on Wednesday, signed by 45 NT paediatricians, the medical professionals urged the government to reconsider its approach to young offenders. "There is no evidence that criminalising a child's behaviour deters an individual from offending, this in fact does the opposite and entrenches criminal behaviour for that young person," the letter reads. Speaking to the ABC, Anna Lithgow and Catherine Boyd who have both worked as paediatricians in the NT for almost two decades, said the suggested changes posed significant health risks. "We know that these mesh [spit] hoods, when placed upon children's heads, impact on their breathing and can lead to asphyxiation, seizures, stroke, disability and death," said Dr Lithgow. "Increasing rates of incarceration of young people can only result in increasing psychological trauma, potentially increasing rates of suicidality, self-harm [and] emergency department presentations," added Dr Boyd. Justice Initiative Reform executive director Mindy Sotiri said at their core, the proposed changes failed to understand the way in which young people thought about crime. "To suggest that children are rationally weighing up the consequences of their actions and deciding not to commit crime, because, you know, there's a change to the diversionary options available, or because there's a harsher penalty, it's just really naive," she told ABC Radio Darwin. "That's just not the way that crime is committed." She said programs that offered bail and post-release support or First Nations place-based support were some examples of changes proven to help reduce recidivism. The chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (NATSIL), Karly Warner, said in a statement the government was ignoring a large body of research in the area. 'There is a mountain of local, national and international evidence that shows prevention, and intensive, trauma-informed, community-led support is what actually works. These proposed amendments to legislation do exactly the opposite," she said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store