Overview

• Mary Kostakidis sought to dismiss the Zionist Federation of Australia’s claim as vague and embarrassing for not specifying which protected groups her posts allegedly offended
• The ZFA alleges her January 2024 X reposts of Hassan Nasrallah speeches were reasonably likely to insult and humiliate Australian Jews and Israelis in breach of section 18C
• Kostakidis’s legal team argues her posts were fair and accurate reports of public interest statements and qualify for section 18D’s exceptions for journalism and political commentary
• ZFA counsel Michael Borsky KC countered that the added commentary turned the reposts into an endorsement of extremist content, requiring the matter to proceed to trial
• Justice Stephen McDonald reserved judgment on the interlocutory application and indicated his decision would be issued at an unspecified later date