Outgoing ABC managing director David Anderson said there was a step missing in the alleged sacking of journalist Antoinette Lattouf over a post on social media about the Gaza war which the public broadcaster claims breached a direction not to do so.

Under cross-examination at Ms Lattouf’s unfair dismissal trial, Mr Anderson also told the Federal Court on Wednesday that he had “no problem” with the statement Australia is a racist country made by 7.30 political editor Laura Tingle at a public forum last year “because it is based in fact, that we have a history of racism”. He said it was contentious, but impartial.