ABC spent more than $2.5m defending legal action from Antoinette Lattouf
The ABC has already spent more than $2.5 million on external costs defending the lawsuit by journalist and broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf, ABC chief executive Hugh Marks told the Senate, according to estimates.
Last month, a Federal Court judge ordered the ABC to pay him $150,000, finding that firing Lattouf after he shared a Human Rights Watch post about the war in Gaza violated the Fair Work Act.
He was awarded an additional $70,000 in compensation for his non-economic loss.
Under questioning from Liberal senator Dean Smith, Mr Marks told the Senate he predicted external costs incurred by the ABC could continue to rise.
Last month, a Federal Court judge ordered ABC to pay $150,000 to Antoinette Lattouf. (ABC News: Abu Bakr Sajid)
“My guess during the hearing was that it would be in the millions of dollars,” he said.
“There are still some final accounts to be announced, I understand there may or may not be a costs hearing, so unfortunately at this point I don’t think it’s something we can draw a line under as much as I would like.
“I know at this point our external costs for all components are currently more than $2.5 million.”
The previous estimate of the ABC’s cost to defend the case was made in February, when the national broadcaster estimated the figure at $1.1 million.
Mr Marks said it was difficult to estimate internal costs but that many people at the national broadcaster had invested “extensive time and effort”.
“These were all things that should have been avoided; it’s not a good reflection on the organization,” he said.
Asked by Senator Smith what the ABC had learned from Lattouf’s illegal dismissal, Mr Marks said it was necessary to “remain calm under pressure” and “follow our processes”.
“Make sure we are meeting our standards, but also understand who has the authority to make decisions in the organization,” he said.
“There seemed to be a lot of flaws in the Lattouf issue.
“These should not have been lessons to the organization, but they are a good reminder of expectations and responsibilities to act appropriately in all environments. It should have been done better, but it wasn’t.”
Federal Court Judge Darryl Rangiah found that the ABC had breached the Fair Work Act by taking Antoinette Lattouf off the air. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)
Federal Court Judge Darryl Rangiah found the ABC had breached the Fair Work Act by removing Lattouf from the air during a five-day radio presenting contract on Sydney radio in December 2023.
Judge Rangiah found the decision was made to appease the pro-Israel lobbyists behind the grievance campaign and that the ABC unlawfully terminated Lattouf’s employment for reasons “including because he held a political view opposing Israel’s military action in Gaza.”
Following the sentencing, Lattouf shared on social media that the case was never about money for him, claiming ABC spent “over $2 million of taxpayer money” fighting him.
