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Antoinette Lattouf is seeking up to $150,000 in compensation from the ABC in addition to any penalties, written submissions in her unlawful termination suit against the national broadcaster reveal.
The freelance journalist was taken off-air three days into a planned five-day stint on ABC Radio Sydney’s Mornings program in December 2023.
She is suing the ABC for unlawful termination, claiming the decision to axe her was influenced by her political opinion over the Israel-Gaza war and her Middle Eastern race.
Antoinette Lattouf addressing the media outside Federal Court on Friday.Credit: Janie Barrett
Lattouf claims the broadcaster bowed to pressure from pro-Israel lobbyists in removing her from the airwaves. Her views about the war were not expressed on radio.
The parties delivered closing submissions in the Federal Court in Sydney last week and Justice Darryl Rangiah will deliver his decision at a later date. On Monday, the court released written submissions in the dispute.
Lattouf’s barristers, Oshie Fagir and Philip Boncardo, say Lattouf should receive up to $150,000 in compensation for non-economic loss.
“In the circumstances and [having] regard to the extent of the pain, hurt, humiliation and distress experienced by Ms Lattouf, as well as the fact the contravening caused an exacerbation in a pre-existing psychiatric condition, an amount of between $100,000-150,000 should be awarded for non-economic loss,” the submissions say.
This would be separate to any figure awarded as a penalty. Lattouf had initially sought an order reinstating her “to a commensurate position to that from which the [ABC] dismissed her”.
This order is no longer sought. In submissions filed in court, the ABC’s barristers, Ian Neil, SC, and Vanja Bulut, said it could be “inferred that she dropped the claim for reinstatement because she belatedly recognised that it was hopeless”.
The national broadcaster denies that it sacked Lattouf. It says her contract ended as planned after five days but that she was not required to work her final two shifts.
