The ABC has hit back at sacked presenter Antoinette Lattouf’s unlawful dismissal claim, describing it as ‘fundamentally and entirely misconceived’ – as dozens of staff at the national broadcaster threaten to walk out over her treatment.
Ms Lattouf was sacked three days into her stint as a week-long fill-in host on ABC Sydney’s morning show on December 20 over an Instagram post she made. The post linked to a human rights report that accused the Israelis of ‘using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza’.
She subsequently launched a Fair Work claim, alleging she was fired over her political opinions and her Lebanese heritage.
But the ABC said her claim was ‘without merit’ in legal documents filed by the broadcaster to the Fair Work Commission.
The broadcaster claimed ‘any “political opinion” held by (Ms Lattouf) was entirely irrelevant to (and played no part in) the decision by the ABC’.
Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) was sacked three days into her stint as a week-long fill-in host on ABC Sydney’s morning show on December 20 over an Instagram post she made which linked to a human rights report accusing the Israelis of ‘using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza’
On Tuesday afternoon, around 80 ABC employees in the organisation’s Ultimo headquarters in Sydney reportedly threatened to stage a walkout over concerns of ‘outside interference’ and how it handled complaints against staff (pictured)
‘The ABC decided not to require (Ms Lattouf) to perform the last two of her five shifts as a casual Presenter because (she) had failed or refused to comply with directions that she not post on social media about matters of controversy during the short period she was presenting a radio program on the “ABC Sydney” radio station,’ the filed legal defence stated.
The broadcaster’s response came shortly after it was revealed a coordinated campaign from Jewish lawyers had attempted to have Ms Lattouf her sacked.
Secret WhatsApp messages from a 156-strong n group called Lawyers for Israel revealed how they bombarded ABC chair Ita Buttrose with emails threatening legal action unless the presenter was fired.
On Tuesday afternoon, around 80 ABC employees in the organisation’s Ultimo headquarters in Sydney reportedly threatened to stage a walkout over concerns of ‘outside interference’ and how it handled complaints against staff.
‘MEAA media members at the ABC today called on managing director David Anderson to urgently meet with staff and address growing concerns about outside interference, culturally unsafe management practices and to stand up for journalism without fear or favour,’ the union posted on X.
That same day, Ms Lattouf shared – and later deleted – a post on her Instagram account from comedian Dan Ilic who wrote: ‘This saga will end up with Ita (Buttrose) and David Anderson resigning because they forgot what their job was.’
Ms Lattouf, who is described in her Fair Work claim as a ‘multi‐award‐winning journalist, with many years’ experience in television, radio and podcast news and current affairs’, has so far raised almost $54,000 for her legal fight.
The case will be heard by Gerard Boyce, the Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission.
Mr Boyce is no stranger to controversy, having previously been criticsed for displaying a life-size cut-out of former US President Donald Trump in his office.
Secret WhatsApp messages from a 156-strong n group called Lawyers for Israel revealed how they bombarded ABC chair Ita Buttrose (pictured) with emails threatening legal action unless Ms Lattouf was fired
He was also forced to remove scantily-clad erotic figurines that he painted from his office and investigated and later cleared of allegations he set off fireworks at a boozy work Christmas party.
In her Fair Work claim, Ms Lattouf alleges she was summoned to a meeting with ABC executives on 20 December where she was told of her termination after sharing the HRW report.
Her claim points out that this decision was taken ‘despite ABC Online publishing an article the previous day with the headline Israel‐Gaza war: Human Rights Watch says starvation is being used as ‘a weapon of war’ by the Israeli government’.
‘Following the meeting, Ms Green (Elizabeth Green, content director for ABC Local Radio Sydney) said to Ms Lattouf: “It was above me, it was David Anderson. I know I shouldn’t be telling you this”,’ according to Ms Lattouf’s Fair Work claim.
But the ABC firmly rejects that Mr Anderson, its managing director, made the decision and claimed that Ms Green had ‘no knowledge’ about whether he was involved’.
Ms Lattouf’s claim will be heard by by Gerard Boyce (pictured), the Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission, who once had a life-size cardboard cut-out of Donald Trump in his office
‘Mr David Anderson (ABC Managing Director) did not make the decision that (Ms Lattouf) should not complete the last two of her casual shifts,’ the ABC’s filed legal defence states, with ‘not’ being udnerlined on both occasions.
‘Indeed, Ms Green did not inform (Ms Lattouf) that Mr Anderson had made the decision that the Applicant should not perform the last two of her shifts.
‘During a conversation with (Ms Lattouf) after the meeting on Wednesday, 20 December 2023, Ms Green (in an effort to comfort (Ms Lattouf) and confirm that the decision was not taken lightly) said words to (Ms Lattouf) to the following effect: “these types of matters are taken very seriously and decisions like this can be referred all the way up to the MD’s office”.’
It later adds: ‘The suggestion that the ABC took action against (Ms LAttouf) on the basis of her race, national extraction or social origin is abhorrent.’
‘In any event, it appears that (Ms Lattouf) is attempting to bring an unfair dismissal claim under the guise of an unlawful termination claim because she is not able to make an unfair dismissal claim,’ it states.
Do you know more about this story? [email protected]
READ MORE: Read the secret WhatsApp messages exposing a co-ordinated campaign to boot Antoinette Lattouf from the ABC
