Posts on Lattouf’s social media feeds ‘added up to antisemitism’, says ABC boss

ABC managing director David Anderson looked through freelance journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s social media feeds and became concerned that the content there added up to antisemitism, a court has heard.

Cross-examined on his second day as a witness in Lattouf’s unlawful termination case, Anderson said hiring her had been an error of judgment, given the partisan nature of her views on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

“I have a recollection of her criticisms being or challenging the existence of Israel, which I do believe to be antisemitic…” he said, while questioned on his personal audit of Lattouf’s social media, adding what he saw “added up to antisemitism that was sitting on her social feeds”.

ABC managing director David Anderson leaves the Federal Court after giving evidence in the case against Antoinette Lattouf.Credit: Kate Geraghty

The outgoing Anderson, who finishes in his role at the end of February, said he was deeply unhappy about the “error of judgment” by former ABC radio executive Steve Ahern that led to Lattouf’s appointment.

“I had many concerns. I had concerns that it was possible that Ms Lattouf would say similar statements while on air … so my worry was that we would be in breach of our statutory obligation to remain impartial. That’s what I was worried about,” Anderson said.

After determining what he saw on her feeds added up to antisemitic content, Anderson instructed the broadcaster’s content chief Chris Oliver-Taylor to “manage the risk” he had identified for the ABC.

Oliver-Taylor, who is also on his way out at the ABC, was due to appear on Thursday afternoon, but after a slight schedule change, will now enter the witness box on Friday morning.

As Anderson’s grilling continued, he pushed back on the assessment he was hostile towards Lattouf.

Lattouf arrives at the Federal Court on Thursday.Credit: Kate Geraghty

Anderson had gone through Lattouf’s social media accounts on December 18 – the first day of her five-day contract – after receiving a number of complaints that morning, from what he described as a co-ordinated campaign, which featured around 40 to 50 emails “that were all pretty much written the same way”.

The email complaints alleged Lattouf was antisemitic, Anderson said, later searching through her accounts. Through this, he came to the conclusion she held a partisan view of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

“How on earth is it the managing director of this organisation [is] trawling social media accounts of a five-day casual on a Monday evening?” Lattouf’s barrister Oshie Fagir asked the ABC executive at one point.

Despite the fracas that has ensued over the past 14 months, Anderson said the dealings have not undermined the ABC’s reputation for independence.

“I think the outcome of this trial will determine whether or not it’s affected the ABC’s integrity,” Anderson said.

Earlier in the day, the ABC’s political editor for flagship program 7.30, Laura Tingle, and the X feed of former colleague Paul Barry were dragged back into focus, with Anderson pressed by Fagir about how the public broadcaster dealt with incidents involving controversial comments made by both.

Barry posted in October about claims that Israel was killing journalists, while Tingle was not sanctioned over comments that she made at the Sydney Writers’ Festival last year that Australia is “a racist country”.

“Is there some formal process, or is it an ad hoc response each time?” Fagir asked, trying to press Anderson on the usual process for deciding how to respond when situations such as these arise.

Anderson said that, typically, there is a formal process, which includes the allegations being put to staff, and an investigation ensues.

“That investigation is usually done by, or can be done by, somebody in the employee relations team and People and Culture. Advice is provided to the delegate for the decision, depending on the staff member; it depends where the delegate sits, as far as the decision maker.”

This is the usual process, Anderson said.

“Was the process you’ve just described followed in relation to Ms Lattouf?” Fagir asked Anderson. “I don’t believe so,” he replied.

Lattouf initially took the ABC to the Fair Work Commission over a year ago, after her five-day contract for a fill-in presenter role on ABC Radio Sydney was terminated ahead of schedule.

She was sacked after reposting a report from Human Rights Watch on her Instagram account and is claiming, in part, this was due to expressing political opinion and racial discrimination.

The ABC has continued to deny she was sacked or that its most senior executives, including then-chair Ita Buttrose and Anderson, were influenced by the complaints they had received.

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