Antoinette Lattouf v ABC LIVE updates: Unfair dismissal case resumes in Federal Court; former presenter rejects claim she was told not to post on social media

Before adjourning for the day, Justice Rangiah asked for a post on social media platform X to be taken down immediately, the contents of which went against the order not to copy or publish the court’s live stream.

“If it is not taken down, then I ask the parties to raise that with me again to see what further action, if any, ought to be taken in respect of a possible contempt of court,” Rangiah said.

As a final note, Lattouf’s lawyer Oshie Fagir said the party’s schedule has been “completely exploded”, with the proceedings a full day behind schedule, just two days in.

We’ll be back for the ABC’s opening statement tomorrow, which will be followed by the cross-examination of managing director David Anderson.

Thanks for joining me.

Asked by Neil if Lattouf had “any underlying personality disorders or vulnerabilities,” Strauss said she did not.

However, he noted she is “certainly vulnerable, considering her background, her experiences, what’s going on at the moment, and her perception of events at the ABC”.

“So when the events of the ABC occurred, she was a very vulnerable person, in my opinion, because of her past psychiatric history and the various other factors I’ve alluded to,” Strauss said.

When asked to clarify, Strauss confirmed he was referring to a background of persistent trauma and experience of domestic violence.

NSW Police have confirmed they are investigating an alleged online threat to Antoinette Lattouf in October 2024.

“As the investigation is current, police will not be making any further comment on the matter,” a statement to this masthead said.

Lattouf aired the report earlier today, which was made after her affidavit was submitted.

NSW Police are close to an arrest, Lattouf told the court, but they did not confirm this when approached.

Lattouf was “obviously self-medicating with alcohol”, says her psychiatrist Dr Nigel Strauss, a fact which helped him confirm his diagnosis and conclusion that her condition had worsened.

“That was why she was self-medicating. I didn’t need to know quantities. I just accepted that she was drinking more,” Dr Strauss said.

Lattouf was drinking vodka to help her get to sleep, using sedatives, anti-depressants and occasionally using cannabis, the court heard.

Meanwhile, it is looking unlikely that we will hear from David Anderson today, as was scheduled.

Lattouf’s psychiatrist, Dr Nigel Strauss, has now entered the witness box and is being cross-examined by Ian Neil, SC.

Lattouf’s dismissal and the events surrounding it exacerbated or aggravated a pre-existing depressive disorder with high levels of anxiety, Dr Strauss says.

Lattouf is asked to return to comments she made yesterday, alleging other prominent ABC presenters have taken partial approaches to certain topics, in particular prominent ABC journalists who talk about domestic violence or the need for gender equity.

She says prominent figures Annabel Crabb, Julia Baird, and Virginia Trioli have all publicly spoken about domestic violence, with Trioli attending a No More Violence rally last year and posting about it on her social media.

Craig Reucassel, ABC Radio Sydney’s Breakfast presenter, is also not impartial after making a documentary on waste and recycling, Lattouf says.

ABC radio presenter Craig Reucassel.Credit: James Brickwood

“He’s taken an opinion that recycling based on the evidence and facts [...] that the environment is being harmed, and recycling is important. People know his views, and he hosts, as I understand at the moment, ABC Sydney Breakfast,” she says.

And with that, Lattouf is finished as a witness.

Lattouf is asked again by her barrister about the current ABC chair Kim Williams’ appearance at the National Press Club.

She says Williams not only denied the findings of the Fair Work Commission, denying she was sacked, as the commission found, but then “took swipes” at her, saying “unlike Ms Lattouf, the ABC has been impeccably silent on this matter”, she said, quoting Williams.

Williams spoke with “derision in his voice towards me” live on television at the National Press Club, Lattouf told the court.

ABC chair Kim Williams spoke with “derision in his voice towards me”, Lattouf says.Credit: AFR

Lattouf says she made the police report after receiving an abusive email.

“I’d had enough. I don’t know why I reported this one and not some of the others that I just blocked, but on that particular day, I was like, I shouldn’t have to put up with this,” she says.

After making the statement to the NSW Police, she says they have now identified the man.

“My reputation is everything,” Lattouf says, “especially as a freelance journalist, writer and commentator”.

When the largest and most trusted news and media organisation in Australia accuses you “again and again of insubordination, breaching editorial policy and social media policy, no other outlet is going to go near you”, she says, now being questioned by her own barrister.

“I’ve never in my career had at least five or six speaking gigs cancelled in one month.”

During her cross-examination, Lattouf says she reported threats she regularly received to the NSW Police.

She says she made a complaint after her sworn affidavit in October and that the police had told her an arrest of a suspect was imminent.

“I should say I reported it in October last year, and I was contacted by NSW Police in January that they have identified the man, and they believe that they have enough to arrest him,” Lattouf says.

There is some back and forth between Neil and Lattouf’s lawyer, Oshie Fagir.

Neil says he is having some trouble hearing Lattouf when Fagir interjects, “Well, if you stop talking and let her answer the question, you’d be able to hear”.

Neil, shortly after, says he is deaf in his left ear and has “a great deal of difficulty hearing from that side”.