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Journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal win against the ABC in the Federal Court carries salutary lessons for the national broadcaster.
Justice Darryl Rangiah awarded Lattouf $70,000 in damages for the distress her sacking from her five-day stint, after just three days on air, had caused her. Long-time ABC analyst Denis Muller writes that Lattouf had effectively been sacked for her political opinion – opposing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
ABC management had come under significant pressure to remove her as a result, setting off a panic within the organisation not just about quelling the complaints but also protecting the broadcaster’s reputation for impartiality.
In the end, the way the case was handled did a great deal of damage to the ABC, not just in its reputation for impartiality, but also its willingness to stand up for its journalists.
“This is a cultural weakness in the ABC,” Muller writes. “Its editorial leadership seems not to understand that the first duty of an editor is to create a safe space in which their staff can do good journalism.”
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Amanda Dunn
Politics + Society Editor
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Denis Muller, The University of Melbourne
The way the case was handled has done substantial damage to the ABC’s reputation, not just for impartiality but for its capacity to stand up for its staff.
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John Hawkins, University of Canberra
Turmoil in markets has added another layer of complexity to the outlook for interest rates.
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Craig Mark, Hosei University
Japan has been under pressure from the US on tariffs and defence spending. And the new prime minister is under pressure domestically to hold firm with Trump.
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Hsiao-chun Hung, Australian National University
Rice is difficult to grow in the Pacific, so how did it end up in a cave? Archaeologists reveal the hidden history of this ancient and well-travelled grain.
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Lucas Walsh, Monash University
The Albanese government wants to see 80% of Australian workers have a TAFE or uni qualification by 2050, up from the current 60%.
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Trivess Moore, RMIT University; Nicola Willand, RMIT University; Sarah Robertson, RMIT University
New plans to get Victoria off gas are less ambitious. But they will still cut energy bills and accelerate the shift away from gas.
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Kevin Foster, Monash University
Drones, AI-targeting systems and the jostle for power in space raise a host of ethical questions about how, when, where and why we should fight.
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Rachel Baird, University of Tasmania
Collecting the climate-related data will be a headache for most companies. And it will be overwhelming for readers.
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Politics + Society
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Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato
Museum exhibits only tell part of what happened in the past. Visitors need to consider what is being included – and what is being left out.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Sussan Ley at her first address to the National Press Club announced the plans to craft a new energy policy despite the deep divides within her party.
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Adrian Beaumont, The University of Melbourne
While the lion’s share of Greens preferences went to Labor, 75% of One Nation put Coalition ahead.
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Health + Medicine
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Sebastian Rosenberg, University of Sydney
The Productivity Commission has found governments’ agreements to improve mental health care and reduce suicides are ‘not fit for purpose’.
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Gemma Sharp, Monash University
Disordered eating doesn’t always lead to an eating disorder. But these behaviours – especially dieting – can be the first sign.
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Environment + Energy
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Kit Prendergast, University of Southern Queensland
A researcher left 1,000 artificial bee nests in a forest devastated by bushfire … and then began an anxious wait.
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Science + Technology
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Nicholas Wu, Murdoch University
If bats’ way of living falters, entire food webs could feel the effects.
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Arts + Culture
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Adam Daniel, Western Sydney University
The killer robot is far from a simple villain. It is a mirror held up to cultural questions we have about human autonomy and responsibility in the digital age.
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John Mickel, Queensland University of Technology
Directed by Kriv Stenders, using reenactments, archival footage and contemporary interviews, the film portrays Bjelke-Petersen as a complex and polarising figure.
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Your Say
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
24 hours later the government has backed the US attack on Iran but clearly it remains uncomfortable doing so, but not as uncomfortable in years gone by.
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Support through gritted teeth
"Besides the points already brought up by Michelle Grattan, Anthony Albanese’s final capitulation to supporting Trump’s strikes on Iran may also have been the mauling he was getting in the conservative press for not immediately congratulating him. Albanese knows that two previous prime ministers have tried to take on Murdoch and failed."
Gary Barnes, Mosman NSW 
The US’ loyal sidekick?
“Observing the Australian Government respond to the US’ attacks on Iran is painful. Albanese and Wong know the attacks are illegal. They are wedged. They cannot publicly criticise the US, as it’s Australia’s protector. The rest of the world knows this and knows Australia is a powerless lackey of the US."
Cid Mateo, Yuin Country
Playing it too safe
“Albanese said we would not become involved in wars that were not in our area. I wonder how he will justify supporting America in bombing Iran? I think that maybe this government is relying on this year’s election results to say they’re safe for the next one."
Peter Bolton
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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University of Technology, Sydney
Sydney NSW, Australia
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Full Time
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Charles Darwin University
Darwin NT, Australia
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Contract
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Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
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Contract
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