ABC staff have passed another vote of no confidence in managing director David Anderson over Lattouf matter

Staff at the public broadcaster have passed another vote of no confidence in managing director David Anderson as the Antoinette Lattouf saga continues.

For the second time in as many months, ABC staff have passed a vote of no confidence in the public broadcaster’s managing director David Anderson over his handling of the Antoinette Lattouf affair.

Lattouf was dumped as fill-in host on ABC Sydney’s mornings radio program on December 20 after completing just three days of a five-day contract, amid concerns over her use of social media relating to the Israel-Gaza war.

The decision by ABC management to take her off-air caused uproar within the media organisation, with a cohort of staff expressing outrage at the way the matter was handled. 

On Wednesday ABC staff (who are members of the media union, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance) passed a motion of no confidence in Mr Anderson.

The group also called for the ABC’s chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor to be stood down over his involvement in the decision to remove Lattouf from the mornings program before the end of her week-long contract. 

It’s the second time in two months that a vote of no-confidence in Mr Anderson has been passed by unionised staff at the ABC.

On January 22, more than 100 unionised staff rebuked him over claims he had bowed to external pressure when backing the decision to let Lattouf go.

The Fair Work Commission recently heard evidence relating to Mr Oliver-Taylor’s involvement in having Lattouf removed from the radio program after three shifts due to her use of social media relating to the Israel-Gaza war.

ABC chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor.

MEAA’s media director Cassie Derrick said Lattouf’s abrupt exit from the ABC was poorly handled and that she was unfairly dismissed.

“The mishandling of Antoinette Lattouf’s employment has done enormous damage to the integrity and reputation of the ABC,” said MEAA’s media director Cassie Derrick.

“Evidence provided in the Fair Work Commission hearing about the involvement of David Anderson and Chris Oliver-Taylor in her dismissal has further undermined the confidence of staff in the managing director and his senior managers to be able to protect the independence of the ABC from outside criticism.”

The motion passed by ABC staff also called on management to “stop wasting public funds on defending the unfair dismissal case.”

Mr Anderson issued a statement on Wednesday and said the ABC is continuing to defend the legal matter and he stood by Mr Oliver-Taylor.

“The Commission has had the benefit of hearing the evidence of all witnesses in its entirety – not just selectively reported comments – and of hearing the legal submissions made by both parties,” he said.

“It is inappropriate to comment further while that decision is pending.

“I have continued confidence in Chris Oliver-Taylor to perform the role of ABC chief content officer.”

Please donate to my legal fund to help me fight for our ABC.#NoFearNoFavourhttps://t.co/c5eUS61zGdpic.twitter.com/JSZUhDwQQv

— Antoinette Lattouf (@antoinette_news) January 24, 2024

Lattouf was scheduled to fill in for regular ABC Sydney host Sarah Macdonald for five days prior to Christmas, but was sacked after her third shift.

In her FWC claim, Lattouf argued that she was unlawfully terminated for breaching the ABC’s social media guidelines after sharing a post by Human Rights Watch about the war that read: “The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza.”

Three days prior to Lattouf joining the ABC in November, she said on social media she could not be fired over her views on the Israel-Gaza war.

She told her followers, “f..k them” to anybody who did not want to work with her as a result of her views on the war.

Lattouf has continued to attack the ABC in a series of social media posts since her departure and has also made multiple calls to the public to donate to her GoFundMe page to help pay for her legal costs.

She is being represented by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and has so far raised more than $106,000.

Fair Work Commission deputy president Gerard Boyce has not yet handed down his decision on the matter.