Overview

• Managing director Hugh Marks told Senate estimates the ABC has spent more than $2.5 million in external legal costs and said a costs hearing and final accounts could push the figure higher.
• A Federal Court found the ABC breached the Fair Work Act by taking Antoinette Lattouf off air in December 2023 and ordered payments totaling about $220,000, including $150,000 plus an earlier $70,000 for non‑economic loss.
• Justice Darryl Rangiah ruled the decision responded to a coordinated complaints campaign by pro‑Israel lobbyists and that the broadcaster acted on the basis of Lattouf's political opinion about Gaza.
• Marks said policies and procedures were not followed, cited failures in decision-making processes, and noted internal time and effort were extensive but hard to quantify.
• Marks said an initial $85,000 settlement offer was rejected due to conditions he said would breach editorial standards, and he confirmed a separate commercial offer around $150,000 was discussed but not agreed.