Lattouf dismissal emails not provided in unlawful fire hearing

Antoinette Lattouf has argued her case at a Fair Work hearing, requesting access to the correspondence surrounding her exit.

Former ABC reporter Antoinette Lattouf has been denied access to the emails relating to her dismissal.

The former radio presenter lodged a Fair Work Commission complaint against the national broadcaster in January. Ms Lattouf has claimed that she was unlawfully terminated by the ABC over her social media and as an act of racial discrimination.

As a part of the commission, Ms Lattouf and her legal representation sought an order for the ABC to provide emails sent to Chairperson Ita Buttrose and managing director David Anderson.

The Fair Work Commission did not grant the request, and the matter will be taken to another hearing in March.

In January Ms Buttrose defended Mr Anderson as he came under scrutiny for Ms Lattouf’s dismissal. The outgoing ABC Chair said that claims the ABC had been pressured into firing Ms Lattouf by a pro-Israel lobby group were false.

“It is abhorrent and incorrect that people would suggest that he has shown a lack of support for independent journalism and journalists,” Ms Buttrose said.

“David Anderson has always been strong a supporter of the independence of the ABC and its journalists. He has encouraged them to report without fear or favour and has never weakly surrendered to criticism.

“The ABC regularly receives, and responds to, complaints from individuals or organisations and the assumption that either the managing director as editor-in-chief or I would be influenced by any sort of lobbying pressure is quite simply wrong.”