‘Won’t stop’: Host declares legal war on ABC

A radio host has declared she “won’t stop” after her sacking from the ABC, claiming “millions of people” are invested in the outcome.

Broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf has declared she “won’t stop” after emerging from mediation with the ABC over her sacking, claiming “millions of people” are invested in the outcome.

Lattouf was contracted to fill-in at the national broadcaster for five days in December but was sacked after three shifts after she was warned about her social media posts by management regarding the Israel-Hamas war.

The next day she then re-posted on Instagram a post from Human Rights Watch that said: “The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza”.

Emerging from confidential negotiations today she declared there were no plans to settle.

“The matter was not resolved today,’’ she said. “But I won’t stop. I will fight as long as I need to.

“Thank you so much for all the support so far. It has poured in from around the country and also overseas.”

Lattouf, who is Lebanese-Australian, has lodged unfair dismissal proceedings that also suggest she was discriminated against on the basis of race.

Former ABC fill-in presenter Antoinette Lattouf. Picture: Instagram

In legal documents filed by the ABC in response to her Fair Work claim for unfair dismissal, her expanded claim is described as “fundamentally and entirely misconceived.”

The mediation follows the emergence of leaked WhatsApp messages detailing a group called Lawyers for Israel writing to the ABC to demand Lattouf be sacked.

The journalist told the media today outside the Fair Work Commission she was grateful for the support she has received from ABC workers who have threatened to strike and from the public who have donated nearly $30,000 towards her legal fees.

“The reason millions of people are invested in this case is because it’s about so much more than me,” she said.

“It’s about free speech. It’s about racism. It’s about the importance of truth telling in journalism. It’s about the need for a strong, representative and independent ABC.”

ABC staff this week requested management and board members sit with unions to “establish a culturally informed process for appropriately supporting staff who face criticism or attack.”

“I love the ABC, I always have. I will always advocate for a public broadcaster that operates without fear or favour,’’ she said.

On Thursday, ABC managing director David Anderson hit back at staff claims the broadcaster bowed to Jewish lobby groups when it sacked fill-in radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf.

The ABC has previously lodged a defence to Lattouf’s unfair dismissal claim slamming it as “without merit” and including “abhorrent” claim of racism that it rejected.

Ms Lattouf was contracted to fill-in at the national broadcaster for five days in December. Picture: Instagram

An Instagram story that was shared by Lattouf on her social media account on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Source: Instagram

“The ABC’s independence, enshrined in legislation, is of paramount importance to the role the ABC performs for the Australian public,” Mr Anderson said.

“The ABC rejects any claim that it has been influenced by any external pressure, whether it be an advocacy or lobby group, a political party, or commercial entity. That applies to all decisions made across the organisation, including in relation to content, where the ABC’s Editorial Policies provide strong direction on independence and other crucial matters.

“The ABC also takes very seriously our responsibility to champion diversity and inclusion in order to accurately reflect the community we serve, both in our content and as an organisation. This is an ongoing process involving regular review, to ensure we aim high.”

Staff revolt

The ABC is facing a staff revolt over the sacking.

Hundreds of ABC staff have demanded ABC managing director David Anderson return from summer holidays to “explain why Antoinette Lattouf was sacked.”

“We call for the Managing Director to return from leave and urgently meet with staff to explain why Antoinette Lattouf was sacked and explain what lobbying was done of the Managing Director and Chair,’’ the national resolution states.

The journalists union the MEAA said it supported “the demands our Ultimo colleagues made of ABC Management on 16 January.”

“We further express our deep concern at the sacking of Antoinette Lattouf and targeting of other journalists, and dismay at the lack of support for ABC staff who come under attack in coordinated campaigns,’’ a spokesperson said.

ABC staff are calling for an urgent meeting. Picture: Instagram

Resignations over ABC Israel-Hamas fight

A former high profile ABC breakfast presenter Nour Haydar who filled in as a co-host with Michael Rowland has also quit over concerns about the broadcaster’s coverage of the Middle East.

She posted in support of Ms Lattouf on Wednesday who was sacked after re-posting material from the group Human Rights Watch.

“Does this mean all ABC employees can’t share info from Human Rights Watch?” Ms Haydar wrote.

“What if it’s about the treatment of Uyghurs in China or protesters in Iran? Does this rule exist exclusively for findings that are critical of Israel?”

Haydar, a former political reporter in the ABC’s Parliament House bureau, resigned and joined The Guardian as a podcast journalist.

“I have resigned from the ABC. This was not a decision that I made lightly, but one I made with total clarity,” she said.

“Commitment to diversity in the media cannot be skin deep. Culturally diverse staff should be respected and supported even when they challenge the status quo.”

Haydar was a political reporter at the ABC's Parliament House bureau. Picture: Supplied / Instagram

But in a legal filing, the ABC rejected claims Ms Lattouf was terminated following a direct intervention by the broadcaster’s managing director.

‘This is our generation of McCarthyism’

Labor frontbencher Ed Husic weighed in on the sacking of Lattouf, warning people should be able to “express their views without feeling their jobs are on the line.”

The cabinet minister, who has previously described Israel’s military action in Gaza as “very disproportionate” and that children “are not Hamas” made the comments at a press conference on Wednesday.

“If it’s peaceful and conforms to what we think is acceptable in a democratic country, they shouldn’t feel their jobs are on the line,” he said.

Mr Husic, the industry minister, has previously stated that Australians should be free to express concerns about the loss of innocent life in Gaza without being “professionally black-listed”.

“This is our generation of McCarthyism which we saw back in the 50s, where people were targeted believing that they were communist … I don’t think we need to replay that in this day and age,” he said.