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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Nine denies Lattouf contempt over pro-Israel lobbyists
Pro-Israel lobbyists harassed for complaining about an ABC radio host's views on Palestine want another media company to be prosecuted for revealing their names. Antoinette Lattouf was ousted from her casual position on ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program in December 2023. She was awarded $70,000 for her unlawful termination in June. Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah found the national broadcaster removed her from air following pressure from an orchestrated campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists. Nine of those who complained had their names suppressed in February as the hearing started. The group returned to court on Monday, asking Justice Rangiah to refer Nine-owned newspapers to a registrar for prosecution for alleged contempt of court. Prominent barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC argued at an earlier hearing Nine failed to promptly take down or amend January 2024 articles published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age containing the names of four individuals who complained. It took the publisher six weeks to remove the names despite repeated letters, she said. A separate article by the Nine-owned Pedestrian TV also identifying some of the complainants was taken down in April. There had been no apology nor a promise to not divulge the names in the future. "All of the respondents are completely unrepentant in relation to the infringement of the order," Ms Chrysanthou said in June. The contempt case has also been brought against journalists Michael Bachelard and Calum Jaspan, editors Bevan Shields and Patrick Elligett and Nine's in-house lawyers Larina Alick and Sam White. Nine's barrister Tom Blackburn SC denied there was any contempt at all when the hearing continued on Monday. His clients could not have breached the court's order suppressing any names or identities because the wording did not specify who the order related to, he argued. 'It's just impossible that there could be a wilful and contumacious contempt in this case in circumstances where we didn't know who the protected people were," he said. The case against the two journalists was "utterly hopeless" as neither had the power to remove or amend the articles, Mr Blackburn said. Similar submissions were made regarding the "incoherent" case brought against the two in-house lawyers. Mr Blackburn argued the case should not be referred to a registrar and that the pro-Israel group should be made to pay his clients' legal costs. Ms Chrysanthou urged Justice Rangiah to refer the matter on, saying the judge only needed to be convinced there was an arguable case of contempt. Nine knew exactly who the suppression order referred to and eventually removed the precise names of the complainants from the articles, she said. Justice Rangiah will deliver his decision at a later date. Pro-Israel lobbyists harassed for complaining about an ABC radio host's views on Palestine want another media company to be prosecuted for revealing their names. Antoinette Lattouf was ousted from her casual position on ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program in December 2023. She was awarded $70,000 for her unlawful termination in June. Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah found the national broadcaster removed her from air following pressure from an orchestrated campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists. Nine of those who complained had their names suppressed in February as the hearing started. The group returned to court on Monday, asking Justice Rangiah to refer Nine-owned newspapers to a registrar for prosecution for alleged contempt of court. Prominent barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC argued at an earlier hearing Nine failed to promptly take down or amend January 2024 articles published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age containing the names of four individuals who complained. It took the publisher six weeks to remove the names despite repeated letters, she said. A separate article by the Nine-owned Pedestrian TV also identifying some of the complainants was taken down in April. There had been no apology nor a promise to not divulge the names in the future. "All of the respondents are completely unrepentant in relation to the infringement of the order," Ms Chrysanthou said in June. The contempt case has also been brought against journalists Michael Bachelard and Calum Jaspan, editors Bevan Shields and Patrick Elligett and Nine's in-house lawyers Larina Alick and Sam White. Nine's barrister Tom Blackburn SC denied there was any contempt at all when the hearing continued on Monday. His clients could not have breached the court's order suppressing any names or identities because the wording did not specify who the order related to, he argued. 'It's just impossible that there could be a wilful and contumacious contempt in this case in circumstances where we didn't know who the protected people were," he said. The case against the two journalists was "utterly hopeless" as neither had the power to remove or amend the articles, Mr Blackburn said. Similar submissions were made regarding the "incoherent" case brought against the two in-house lawyers. Mr Blackburn argued the case should not be referred to a registrar and that the pro-Israel group should be made to pay his clients' legal costs. Ms Chrysanthou urged Justice Rangiah to refer the matter on, saying the judge only needed to be convinced there was an arguable case of contempt. Nine knew exactly who the suppression order referred to and eventually removed the precise names of the complainants from the articles, she said. Justice Rangiah will deliver his decision at a later date. Pro-Israel lobbyists harassed for complaining about an ABC radio host's views on Palestine want another media company to be prosecuted for revealing their names. Antoinette Lattouf was ousted from her casual position on ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program in December 2023. She was awarded $70,000 for her unlawful termination in June. Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah found the national broadcaster removed her from air following pressure from an orchestrated campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists. Nine of those who complained had their names suppressed in February as the hearing started. The group returned to court on Monday, asking Justice Rangiah to refer Nine-owned newspapers to a registrar for prosecution for alleged contempt of court. Prominent barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC argued at an earlier hearing Nine failed to promptly take down or amend January 2024 articles published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age containing the names of four individuals who complained. It took the publisher six weeks to remove the names despite repeated letters, she said. A separate article by the Nine-owned Pedestrian TV also identifying some of the complainants was taken down in April. There had been no apology nor a promise to not divulge the names in the future. "All of the respondents are completely unrepentant in relation to the infringement of the order," Ms Chrysanthou said in June. The contempt case has also been brought against journalists Michael Bachelard and Calum Jaspan, editors Bevan Shields and Patrick Elligett and Nine's in-house lawyers Larina Alick and Sam White. Nine's barrister Tom Blackburn SC denied there was any contempt at all when the hearing continued on Monday. His clients could not have breached the court's order suppressing any names or identities because the wording did not specify who the order related to, he argued. 'It's just impossible that there could be a wilful and contumacious contempt in this case in circumstances where we didn't know who the protected people were," he said. The case against the two journalists was "utterly hopeless" as neither had the power to remove or amend the articles, Mr Blackburn said. Similar submissions were made regarding the "incoherent" case brought against the two in-house lawyers. Mr Blackburn argued the case should not be referred to a registrar and that the pro-Israel group should be made to pay his clients' legal costs. Ms Chrysanthou urged Justice Rangiah to refer the matter on, saying the judge only needed to be convinced there was an arguable case of contempt. Nine knew exactly who the suppression order referred to and eventually removed the precise names of the complainants from the articles, she said. Justice Rangiah will deliver his decision at a later date. Pro-Israel lobbyists harassed for complaining about an ABC radio host's views on Palestine want another media company to be prosecuted for revealing their names. Antoinette Lattouf was ousted from her casual position on ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program in December 2023. She was awarded $70,000 for her unlawful termination in June. Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah found the national broadcaster removed her from air following pressure from an orchestrated campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists. Nine of those who complained had their names suppressed in February as the hearing started. The group returned to court on Monday, asking Justice Rangiah to refer Nine-owned newspapers to a registrar for prosecution for alleged contempt of court. Prominent barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC argued at an earlier hearing Nine failed to promptly take down or amend January 2024 articles published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age containing the names of four individuals who complained. It took the publisher six weeks to remove the names despite repeated letters, she said. A separate article by the Nine-owned Pedestrian TV also identifying some of the complainants was taken down in April. There had been no apology nor a promise to not divulge the names in the future. "All of the respondents are completely unrepentant in relation to the infringement of the order," Ms Chrysanthou said in June. The contempt case has also been brought against journalists Michael Bachelard and Calum Jaspan, editors Bevan Shields and Patrick Elligett and Nine's in-house lawyers Larina Alick and Sam White. Nine's barrister Tom Blackburn SC denied there was any contempt at all when the hearing continued on Monday. His clients could not have breached the court's order suppressing any names or identities because the wording did not specify who the order related to, he argued. 'It's just impossible that there could be a wilful and contumacious contempt in this case in circumstances where we didn't know who the protected people were," he said. The case against the two journalists was "utterly hopeless" as neither had the power to remove or amend the articles, Mr Blackburn said. Similar submissions were made regarding the "incoherent" case brought against the two in-house lawyers. Mr Blackburn argued the case should not be referred to a registrar and that the pro-Israel group should be made to pay his clients' legal costs. Ms Chrysanthou urged Justice Rangiah to refer the matter on, saying the judge only needed to be convinced there was an arguable case of contempt. Nine knew exactly who the suppression order referred to and eventually removed the precise names of the complainants from the articles, she said. Justice Rangiah will deliver his decision at a later date.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Nine denies Lattouf contempt over pro-Israel lobbyists
Pro-Israel lobbyists harassed for complaining about an ABC radio host's views on Palestine want another media company to be prosecuted for revealing their names. Antoinette Lattouf was ousted from her casual position on ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program in December 2023. She was awarded $70,000 for her unlawful termination in June. Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah found the national broadcaster removed her from air following pressure from an orchestrated campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists. Nine of those who complained had their names suppressed in February as the hearing started. The group returned to court on Monday, asking Justice Rangiah to refer Nine-owned newspapers to a registrar for prosecution for alleged contempt of court. Prominent barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC argued at an earlier hearing Nine failed to promptly take down or amend January 2024 articles published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age containing the names of four individuals who complained. It took the publisher six weeks to remove the names despite repeated letters, she said. A separate article by the Nine-owned Pedestrian TV also identifying some of the complainants was taken down in April. There had been no apology nor a promise to not divulge the names in the future. "All of the respondents are completely unrepentant in relation to the infringement of the order," Ms Chrysanthou said in June. The contempt case has also been brought against journalists Michael Bachelard and Calum Jaspan, editors Bevan Shields and Patrick Elligett and Nine's in-house lawyers Larina Alick and Sam White. Nine's barrister Tom Blackburn SC denied there was any contempt at all when the hearing continued on Monday. His clients could not have breached the court's order suppressing any names or identities because the wording did not specify who the order related to, he argued. 'It's just impossible that there could be a wilful and contumacious contempt in this case in circumstances where we didn't know who the protected people were," he said. The case against the two journalists was "utterly hopeless" as neither had the power to remove or amend the articles, Mr Blackburn said. Similar submissions were made regarding the "incoherent" case brought against the two in-house lawyers. Mr Blackburn argued the case should not be referred to a registrar and that the pro-Israel group should be made to pay his clients' legal costs. Ms Chrysanthou urged Justice Rangiah to refer the matter on, saying the judge only needed to be convinced there was an arguable case of contempt. Nine knew exactly who the suppression order referred to and eventually removed the precise names of the complainants from the articles, she said. Justice Rangiah will deliver his decision at a later date.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Nine denies Lattouf contempt over pro-Israel lobbyists
Pro-Israel lobbyists harassed for complaining about an ABC radio host's views on Palestine want another media company to be prosecuted for revealing their names. Antoinette Lattouf was ousted from her casual position on ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program in December 2023. She was awarded $70,000 for her unlawful termination in June. Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah found the national broadcaster removed her from air following pressure from an orchestrated campaign by pro-Israel lobbyists. Nine of those who complained had their names suppressed in February as the hearing started. The group returned to court on Monday, asking Justice Rangiah to refer Nine-owned newspapers to a registrar for prosecution for alleged contempt of court. Prominent barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC argued at an earlier hearing Nine failed to promptly take down or amend January 2024 articles published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age containing the names of four individuals who complained. It took the publisher six weeks to remove the names despite repeated letters, she said. A separate article by the Nine-owned Pedestrian TV also identifying some of the complainants was taken down in April. There had been no apology nor a promise to not divulge the names in the future. "All of the respondents are completely unrepentant in relation to the infringement of the order," Ms Chrysanthou said in June. The contempt case has also been brought against journalists Michael Bachelard and Calum Jaspan, editors Bevan Shields and Patrick Elligett and Nine's in-house lawyers Larina Alick and Sam White. Nine's barrister Tom Blackburn SC denied there was any contempt at all when the hearing continued on Monday. His clients could not have breached the court's order suppressing any names or identities because the wording did not specify who the order related to, he argued. 'It's just impossible that there could be a wilful and contumacious contempt in this case in circumstances where we didn't know who the protected people were," he said. The case against the two journalists was "utterly hopeless" as neither had the power to remove or amend the articles, Mr Blackburn said. Similar submissions were made regarding the "incoherent" case brought against the two in-house lawyers. Mr Blackburn argued the case should not be referred to a registrar and that the pro-Israel group should be made to pay his clients' legal costs. Ms Chrysanthou urged Justice Rangiah to refer the matter on, saying the judge only needed to be convinced there was an arguable case of contempt. Nine knew exactly who the suppression order referred to and eventually removed the precise names of the complainants from the articles, she said. Justice Rangiah will deliver his decision at a later date.
Sky News AU
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
ABC confirms review of personal use of social media guidelines after unfair dismissal case defeat to Antoinette Lattouf
The ABC has scrambled to announce it has reviewed its personal use of social media guidelines for staff in the wake of its high-stakes unfair dismissal case loss to journalist Antoinette Lattouf. The court on Wednesday ruled Ms Lattouf was unlawfully sacked by the ABC during her radio stint in December 2023 for reasons which included her political opinion about the war in Gaza. On December 19 during her contract, Ms Lattouf re-shared an Instagram post by Human Rights Watch about the conflict in Gaza, which accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war. Ms Lattouf claimed she was told in a meeting with management the next day that she had breached the ABC's policies regarding personal use of social media. The journalist, who was hired as a fill-in host on ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program at the time, was taken off air just three days into her five-day contract. Fresh off the back of the judgment on Wednesday, the ABC released a public statement on behalf of its new Managing Director Hugh Marks to address the outcome of the case. The broadcaster, which spent an eye-watering $1 million in defending the legal suit, conceded the matter regarding Ms Lattouf was "not handled in line" with ABC values and expectations. "We also let down our staff and audiences, and this failure has caused understandable concern among the public and inside the organisation," Mr Marks said. A large part of the case centred on whether Ms Lattouf disobeyed a direction from ABC management to not post on social media about the Israel-Gaza war during her contract. Ms Lattouf claimed she was not given an explicit direction by management and had rather agreed on 'parameters' for social media posting, particularly regarding "facts" and "reputable sources". Her argument was upheld by Justice Darryl Rangiah who found Ms Lattouf was "merely provided with advice that it would be best not to post anything controversial about the war". The ABC confirmed it has reviewed its personal use of social media guidelines due to "confusion" about the policies sparked by the court case. "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," Mr Marks said. "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. There's much to consider in the decision and we'll now carefully review it." The national broadcaster's current guidelines regarding personal use of social media include standards that employees "do not damage the ABC's reputation for impartiality and independence". Other standards include that workers "do not mix the professional and the personal in ways likely to bring the ABC into disrepute" and "do not imply ABC endorsement" of an individual's personal views. Legal expert and commentator Chris Merritt labelled the judgment as a "slap in the face for the ABC, particularly for its management systems". Mr Merritt said the process in which Ms Lattouf's employment was handled was "completely amateurish, going right back to how she was hired". "The ABC needs to answer a few questions about that as well, because her social media, the content of her social media, was well-known," Mr Merritt told Sky News host Laura Jayes. "As we heard ... Justice Rangiah say, the man who actually delivered the bad news taking her off air came to the view after looking at her social media that she was antisemitic. "It's very unusual that a media organisation would be happy about having ... someone they believe to be antisemitic presenting a top-rating or a well-rating radio program in the middle of a war involving Israel and Palestinians. "I think it gets back to the process and the law - it was just not taken into account." Mr Merritt said the Fair Work Act is unusual in the sense that it reverses the onus of proof. "Once Ms Lattouf made an assertion that she was dismissed unfairly, unlawfully, for reasons such as race or political opinion, the onus then shifted to the ABC to actually prove that it dismissed her or removed her properly," he said. "The process, as outlined by the judge, and as outlined in the evidence, just falls massively short. There were no warnings, there was nothing in writing." Justice Rangiah concluded the ABC contravened the Fair Work Act in terminating Ms Lattouf's employment for "reasons including that she held political opinions opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza". However, the judge dismissed the claim by Ms Lattouf, who is of Lebanese heritage, that her race or national extraction played a role in her termination. Speaking further to Mr Merritt agreed it is sensible the ABC review its social media policies but said the main takeaway is how it dealt with Ms Lattouf's dismissal. "There was a way of dealing with this issue … because they did not comply with the requirements of the law, they left themselves open to this argument that she was dismissed because of her political view," he said. "I think it's sensible for them to review their social media policies, but it's more sensible that they make it very, very clear to anybody, to any management levels, that there are ways of dealing with employees who they are concerned about." In the ABC's statement, Mr Marks said the public broadcaster regrets "how the decision to remove Ms Lattouf from air was handled". "We extend our sincere apologies to Ms Lattouf and wish her well in her future endeavours," he said. "This matter has caused concerns to be expressed about the ABC's independence and integrity, which are critical to the great trust the Australian public places in us. "Any undue influence or pressure on ABC management or any of its employees must always be guarded against." The matter was brought before the court after mediation between Ms Lattouf and the ABC failed at the Fair Work Commission in 2024.
Sky News AU
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Journalist Antoinette Lattouf awarded $70,000 in compensation after winning unfair dismissal case against the ABC
Journalist Antoinette Lattouf was unfairly sacked by the ABC mid-way through her fill-in radio presenting contract at the national broadcaster, a federal court judge has ruled. Ms Lattouf had claimed she was unlawfully dismissed by the ABC in December 2023 after she re-shared an Instagram post about the war in Gaza, which accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war. The journalist, who was hired as a fill-in host on ABC Radio Sydney's Mornings program at the time, was taken off air three days into her five-day contract. The ABC denied Ms Lattouf was unfairly terminated.
