1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: Today's biggest News from the Australian. I'm Claire Harvey with 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 1: the Front's afternoon headlines. It was embarrassing, unnecessary and expensive. 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: The ABC's bungled handling of two casual radio presenting shifts 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 1: by Antoinette Lettouf cost the broadcaster and therefore taxpayers, more 5 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: than two point six two million dollars. That's a revelation 6 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: at Senate estimates. In answer to a question on notice 7 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: directed to the ABC's boss, Hugh Marx in December twenty 8 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: twenty three, Latouf, whom the ABC says had been identified 9 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 1: as part of their bid to increase the diversity of 10 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: on air talent, began a five day casual shift on 11 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: ABC Radio Sydney. She was hosting the morning's program while 12 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: the regular host was away. Latouf said she understood the 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: brief of the show to be bright and breezy, cats 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: and Christmas puddings. Three days into her gig, Latouf, who 15 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: had since the Hummas terror attacks on October seven, twenty 16 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: twenty three, used her social media channels to criticize Israel's 17 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: war against Tamas, posted this on Instagram. We've used a 18 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: voice actor. Human Rights Watch reporting starvation as a tool 19 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: of war. After that post, Latouf was told she wouldn't 20 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: need to show up for the final two days of 21 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: the stint. Although she was paid, she was asked to leave. 22 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 1: The ABC's ultimo premises Latouf lodged unfair dismissal proceedings, and 23 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: an almighty dispute arose about whether Latouf had been properly 24 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: instructed not to post about the Gaza conflict. Federal Court 25 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: Justice Darryl Rangia later found in Latouf's favor, saying she 26 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: was punished for her political opinion. In October, Hugh Mark's 27 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: told the Senate there were sizeable internal costs from ABC 28 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: staff handling the matter, as well as the considerable legal bill. 29 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: Now the ABC has provided exact figures revealing the x 30 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: external costs to taxpayers have included nearly five hundred and 31 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: fifty six thousand dollars on a Fair Work Commission proceeding 32 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: and then one point eighty five million on the Federal 33 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: Court hearing. The ABC will also have to pay Lato 34 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: two hundred and twenty thousand dollars in damages. In other news, today, 35 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: the Australians reporting one of the country's most influential unions, 36 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: the Australian Services Union says workers should get shorter working 37 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: hours as a productivity dividend for using artificial intelligence technology. 38 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: The Federal Governments released its AI plan, which the Australians 39 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: already revealed will take a light touch on regulating the technology. 40 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: The ASU says all workers should have training, access to 41 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: AI tools and new pay scales to reflect human skills 42 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: like judgment and teamwork. You can check out those stories 43 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: live right now at the Australian dot com dot au. 44 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: If you're looking for a great listen, check out The 45 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: Front's episode from earlier today on the family tragedy engulfing 46 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: the mother of rugby league star pain Hears. It's a 47 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: story that could have serious implications for the way criminal 48 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,679 Speaker 1: matters are handled if there's a claim that the alleged 49 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: perpetrator was suffering mental health problems. That episode's live now 50 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: wherever you're listening.