Nine denies Lattouf contempt over pro-Israel lobbyists
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
38 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Aussie media bus intercepted in Beijing
Chinese security have intercepted an Australian media bus in Beijing ahead of Anthony Albanese's big meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Networks, escorted by Australian officials, were given permission to film Beijing's iconic Drum and Bell towers. Chinese security have intercepted an Australian media bus in Beijing. Supplied/ ABC Credit: Supplied Security told the reporters they were not allowed to move, but the group were able to board a bus and leave the area. Supplied/ ABC Credit: Supplied But as the Australian crews were filming at the tourist hotspot, local authorities moved in. One reporter on the bus said the authorities stopped crews filming and told them they 'couldn't leave'. But the media pack left anyway. NewsWire understands no one was injured and all involved are safe. More to come
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Update on charged ex-Greens protester
Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas will fight charges over an anti-Israel protest in Sydney that left her with a bloodied eye after police confirmed they were not dropping any further charges. The former Grayndler candidate was involved in a protest picketing SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's southwest on June 27 following reports the company provided jet components used by the Israel Defence Forces. Police issued a move-on order to about 60 people, but a scuffle broke out when some failed to comply with directions. Ms Thomas was later pictured with a swollen eye and dried blood on her face following the protest, claiming on social media that she may have suffered permanent vision damage and had undergone multiple surgeries. Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas was charged over an anti-Israel protest in June. Supplied. Credit: Supplied She was subsequently charged with hindering or resisting arrest and two counts of refusing to comply with all directions to disperse. An additional charge related to the rarely used emergency anti-protest powers introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots was earlier dropped by police. Appearing before the Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday, Ms Thomas' lawyer Stewart O'Connell told magistrate Glenn Walsh that he believed there would be 'an application in relation to at least one of the charges'. Instead, the police prosecutor confirmed that officers were seeking pleas in relation to all three charges. Pleas of not guilty were subsequently entered to all three matters. The court was told the NSW Director of Public Prosecution had taken carriage. Ms Thomas was one of five people to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday charged over the protest. Rising Tide organiser Zachary Edward Jaworowski Schofield, Brandon Eid, Shane Reside, and Holly Zhang all had their matters heard on Tuesday, with Mr O'Connell entering pleas of not guilty to each. The court was told the matters would be referred to the NSW DPP because of the 'seriousness and media interest'. In the matters of Mr Reside and Ms Zhnag, the court was told two witnesses would be called, with body-worn video to be produced for the hearing but not any CCTV. Mr Schofield is expected to return before the court later on Tuesday for a bail application. NSW Greens call for Premier to take action In a statement, lawyer Peter O'Brien on Monday called for the charges against Ms Thomas to be dropped, claiming he was 'satisfied' the former Greens candidate had been 'punched in the face' by police. 'My office has now viewed all available footage of the incident giving rise to the moments leading to the injury to Ms Thomas' eye on the 27th of June, and I am satisfied that Ms Thomas was punched in the face by a male police officer, causing extensive and serious injury to her eye,' Mr O'Brien said. Mr O'Brien said Ms Thomas was an 'innocent victim of gratuitous police brutality' and condemned the actions of police as 'completely and entirely unjustifiable'. Ms Thomas was spotted with a swollen eye and blood dripping down her face following the protest. Supplied. Credit: Supplied He said Ms Thomas would be filing a civil claim for compensation against the state over her 'apprehension, injury, detention, and prosecution'. Ms Thomas had earlier claimed her injuries were the result of anti-protest laws introduced by the NSW Labor government earlier this year following a spate of anti-Semitic attacks and an explosives-laden caravan found in Dural in Sydney's northwest that police later said was a fake terrorism plot. The laws outlaw many forms of protest outside places of worship and introduce harsh new penalties. They are subject to a constitutional challenge in the NSW Supreme Court, launched on behalf of the Palestine Action Group. On Tuesday, NSW Greens MLC Sue Higginson called on Police Minister Yasmin Catley to stand Assistant Police Commissioner Brett McFadden down after reports he falsely claimed he reviewed police body-cam footage from the incident involving Ms Thomas and found no evidence of misconduct. 'NSW Police have misled the public, ignored evidence, and made excuses for violence against women – and Labor Premier Chris Minns hasn't uttered a word against them,' she said on Instagram. 'The inconsistent statements from NSW Police make it clear that all charges against Hannah and her fellow protesters should be dropped. 'We will see more violence against peaceful protests unless NSW Labor urgently repeal their draconian anti-protest laws.'
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Controversial anti-Semitism definition weighed up
Australia shouldn't legislate a controversial definition of anti-Semitism or impose penalties for breaching it, coalition frontbencher James Paterson says. Anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal on Thursday handed down her report on combating hatred against Jewish people. She recommended Australia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, which some groups argue conflates criticism of Israel. The report also urges the government to cut funding to universities, programs or academics that enable or fail to act against anti-Semitism. All public funding agreements with festivals or cultural institutions should include terms to allow for the termination of the agreement when they promote or facilitate hatred, it says. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is mulling over the findings, and is yet to commit to implementing the recommendations. Senator Paterson said the IHRA definition was important, because what constitutes anti-Semitism is highly contested. "It has been a very helpful tool and helpful guideline. No one in Australia, though, is proposing that (it) should be legislated or that there should be consequences under the law for transgressing IHRA," he told ABC's RN on Tuesday. "I don't think anyone should propose that. I don't think that'd be consistent with Australia's approach to free speech." Ms Segal has been called on to resign in recent days after revelations a trust linked to her husband made a donation to a right-wing lobby group. Her husband, John Roth, is a director of Henroth Discretionary Trust, which gave $50,000 to Advance Australia in the 2023/24 financial year. The envoy is not listed as a director or shareholder of the company, Henroth Investments Pty Ltd, which made the payment. Ms Segal said she had no involvement with her husband's donations. Former foreign minister Bob Carr said the envoy must clarify that she does not share her husband's political views. "What I'm asking for her is a full bodied repudiation of views that are every bit as repugnant as the anti-Semitism that she focuses on and she addresses," he told Sky News. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended Ms Segal, saying she should not be held accountable for the actions of a man. "It's a long time since we've been a country where you would blame a woman for decisions of her husband," he told ABC's 7.30 on Monday. "She said she didn't know about it, and I've got no reason to do anything other than believe her."
