Gillham v MSO Case Update: Freedom of Expression and the Expanding Trial
Trial delayed until 18 May 2026, extended to three weeks
The Federal Court of Australia has confirmed that my case against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has been delayed by six months and expanded from one to three weeks, after the MSO decided to call more than twenty witnesses, including senior board members, executives, and advisors.
The delay and expansion were not sought by me and result entirely from the MSO’s defence strategy, which has made the case significantly more complex and costly.
As my lawyer Michael Bradley of Marque Lawyers has said, the case has now tripled in size. It is not just about artistic freedom, but about a wider question: how much control should employers have over the political expression of workers and contractors?
This began when the MSO cancelled my performance in August 2024 following remarks I made in my concert introduction, where I referred to the targeted killing of Palestinian journalists in Gaza and provided context for the music I was about to perform.
The trial is now scheduled to begin on 18 May 2026, and with the extended timeframe the financial burden has risen sharply. I remain committed to seeing this case through because freedom of expression and artistic integrity are fundamental to a healthy democracy.
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