ABC presenter vanishes from screens after offensive Twitter list uncovered

An ABC presenter has vanished from the airwaves without explanation after it was revealed she kept a long list of Labor “trolls” on Twitter.

An ABC Weekend Breakfast presenter has vanished from the airwaves without explanation after it was revealed she kept a long list of Labor “trolls” on Twitter under offensive names.

Viewers noticed Fauziah Ibrahim was missing from her usual slot over the weekend — leading to speculation as to whether she had been dropped by the broadcaster.

She became embroiled in controversy after it was uncovered that she kept a list of “Labor Trolls/Thugs” on Twitter and another labelled “Lobotomised S**theads”.

Social media users, including former Labor Senator Doug Cameron, who found themselves grouped in the two lists – which were available for any member of the public to see – accused Ms Ibrahim of being against Labor.

On Saturday and Sunday, Ibrahim mysteriously disappeared from the show she co-hosts, without explanation, an omission that was first clocked byThe Australian’s Media Diary which reported there was just a passing reference to her.

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Fauziah Ibrahim

John Barron, who replaced her, said “It’s great to be here,” to co-host Johanna Nicholson. “Usually I would be watching you and Fauziah.”

Nicholson responded by thanking him for getting up “so early”.

Ms Ibrahim has also removed any reference to ABC on her Twitter biography, including from her cover photo.

All of which led to speculation that she had been removed from the role.

The ABC confirmed on Monday that Ibrahim has taken a break from presenting while her social media activity is under review.

“The ABC is reviewing recent social media activity by presenter Fauziah Ibrahim, who has taken a break from on-camera duties but remains part of the Weekend Breakfast team,” a spokeswoman for the broadcaster said in a statement.

The Australian reports that Ms Ibrahim’s comments have caused quite the stir inside the ABC headquarters in Ultimo.

John Barron appeared on the show as a replacement.

It reported there was fury among ABC staff that such a list had been published by one of the public broadcaster’s presenters in the midst of an election campaign.

“Ibrahim’s intention with the lists on her private Twitter accounts seems to have been to expose the intellectual failings of Labor’s leaders and supporters,” the paper reported. “But such lists aren’t exactly a winning formula for a presenter meant to be reporting impartially on both sides.”

Last August ABC published guidelines for the personal use of social media by its staff.

This followed paid it paying journalist Louise Milligan’s personal legal costs of almost $200,000 after she was sued by federal MP Andrew Laming over a series of tweets.

The broadcaster’s new policy makes clear staff risk being losing their job if they compromise ABC’s independence or bring it into disrepute.