Federal Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against Ex-SBS Presenter Over Antisemitism Claims
By Editor • September 12, 2026 • 1 min read
In a significant legal development, the racial discrimination lawsuit against former SBS newsreader Mary Kostakidis has been officially dropped, marking a victory for press freedom. The case was initiated by Alon Cassuto, the chief executive of the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), in response to Kostakidis's controversial social media comments regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The legal action, which began in 2025, focused on a post shared by Kostakidis that featured a video of Hassan Nasrallah, the deceased leader of Hezbollah, suggesting a bleak future for Israelis in the Middle East. Kostakidis captioned the video, "The Israeli govt getting some of its own medicine," a statement that the ZFA claimed was anti-Semitic as it allegedly undermined the Jewish people's right to self-determination.
After both parties consented, the Federal Court in South Australia concluded that the lawsuit would be discontinued without any costs ordered. Kostakidis expressed her relief, framing the outcome as a triumph for freedom of political expression and a reaffirmation of the essential role of journalism in society. She thanked her supporters for their solidarity and emphasized the importance of fearless truth-seeking in the media.
Source: www.abc.net.au
#antisemitism #Mary Kostakidis #press freedom #South Australia #Zionist Federation of Australia
