Court case brought by Zionist federation against journalist Mary Kostakidis ended ‘by consent’
News Source
•Sat, 12 Sep 2026 03:21:50 GMT
📰 What Happened
A court case against journalist Mary Kostakidis has been dropped. The Zionist Federation of Australia had accused her of breaking the Racial Discrimination Act. The case in the Federal Court was ended 'by consent', with no order for costs.
The case was about two posts she shared on X in January 2024. One included a video of a speech by the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. She added her own comment about Israel and the war in Gaza.
Kostakidis, a former SBS newsreader, welcomed the result. She called it a win for every Australian who values the right to free political speech.
🔍 The Backstory
Last year Kostakidis asked the court to strike the case out. She argued the claim never said which race, ethnicity or nationality was offended by her posts about Israel. Court documents also claimed the case was part of a 'deliberate campaign to discredit' her.
The federation's chief executive, Alon Cassuto, had pointed to a post where she shared the Nasrallah speech and added: 'The Israeli govt getting some of its own medicine.' The group argued that broke the law on racial hate speech.
🎯 Why It Matters
It tests how far Australians can go when criticising a government online. The result may shape what people feel safe posting about the Middle East.
A court case against journalist Mary Kostakidis has been dropped. The Zionist Federation of Australia had accused her of breaking the Racial Discrimination Act. The case in the Federal Court was ended 'by consent', with no order for costs.
The case was about two posts she shared on X in January 2024. One included a video of a speech by the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. She added her own comment about Israel and the war in Gaza.
Kostakidis, a former SBS newsreader, welcomed the result. She called it a win for every Australian who values the right to free political speech.
Last year Kostakidis asked the court to strike the case out. She argued the claim never said which race, ethnicity or nationality was offended by her posts about Israel. Court documents also claimed the case was part of a 'deliberate campaign to discredit' her.
The federation's chief executive, Alon Cassuto, had pointed to a post where she shared the Nasrallah speech and added: 'The Israeli govt getting some of its own medicine.' The group argued that broke the law on racial hate speech.
It tests how far Australians can go when criticising a government online. The result may shape what people feel safe posting about the Middle East.