Lattouf’s direct manager said she ‘tried to stop them’ in emotional exchange
Antoinette Lattouf manager told her there was pressure from higher up for her to be removed from the day she started.
The direct manager of one-time ABC radio host Antoinette Lattouf apologised and told her she had “tried to stop” those further up the chain of command from dismissing her following an onslaught of email complaints sent to the board, describing herself as “emotional” as Lattouf was told to “get her bag and leave” three days into the job.
Her legal team also accused the ABC of treating Lattouf differently, saying high-profile presenters and journalists like Patricia Karvelas, Laura Tingle and John Lyons had expressed many opinions publicly and related to their roles “without suffering any sanction”.
Elizabeth Green, ABC Radio Sydney’s content director, was one of three ABC employees who gave evidence in Lattouf’s unfair dismissal case against the ABC on Wednesday, alongside head of audio content Ben Latimer, and then-acting editorial director Simon Melkman.
Ms Green was asked questions about a meeting on December 20, 2023, with ABC radio executives, where she was told Lattouf would be taken off-air after sharing a social media post from Human Rights Watch with the caption: “HRW reporting starvation as a tool of war”.
“You … expressed the view that you did not see anything wrong with Ms Lattouf’s post,” barrister Philip Boncardo asked.
“I did say that,” Ms Green responded.
The court heard Steve Ahern, acting head of the ABC’s Capital City Networks, then stepped out and brought Ms Lattouf into the office.
Ms Green agreed he said “words to effect of … unfortunately as a result of a specific social media post which you have shared on Instagram, we have made the decision that you will not be returning to complete your last two shifts on air”.
Lattouf’s barrister claimed their client said Ms Green “told me I could post if it was from a reputable source. We talked about examples like Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists”, which Ms Green said she “did not recall”.
Ms Green had previously told the court that on December 19, when she had passed-on information to Lattouf from executives about the many complaints they had received about her, that she agreed it was “OK for her to post something that was fact based, and from a verified source … or from a reputable organisation”.
Ms Green agreed that Mr Ahern had then told Lattouf “You can return to your desk, get your bag and leave”, adding that he also said “there was no rush.”
She said Lattouf was in a state of “distress and upset” after her dismissal and was “crying”, and said she was concerned about her.
“It was very emotional for the both of you at that time,” Mr Boncardo said. “Yes,” Ms Green replied.
She agreed she had said words like: “I am sorry, and I had tried to stop them”.
“I believed it was coming from higher up. I said there was pressure for her to be removed from the Monday. And I understood it had been referred up,” Ms Green clarified.
“I recall her asking what it was that she posted that was the issue? And I said it was Human Rights Watch (post).”
Ms Green agreed she “possibly” told her the post “wasn’t balanced”.
Head of Audio content Ben Latimer in evidence said he “shared the view that it may compromise the ABC’s impartiality to have Ms Lattouf on air in circumstances where she shared content on social media that expressed the partisan view”.
He said he “wasn’t sure” whether Ms Lattouf had breached “any ABC policy or procedure” such as a social media or editorial policy through the HRW post, only that she had “failed to adhere to the direction” not to post to social media.
Lattouf’s barrister Oshie Fagir suggested that Lattouf had been treated differently to other high-profile ABC employees and “there are ABC broadcasters who, every day, make public statements and conduct themselves in a way that would contravene the alleged rule, without ever being removed off air without ever being subject of any sanction, even where the opinions expressed relate directly to their work”.
He pointed at numerous points in the day to posts on X made by “star (radio) presenter” Patricia Karvelas, including on August 17, 2022, where she wrote: “I have watched thousands of press conference and the lack of contrition here is quite extraordinary” after former prime minister Scott Morrison gave a press conference about multiple secret ministries.
He asked whether ABC journalist Laura tingle had been “sanctioned” over comments that Australia was a racist country or whether John Lyons said had been sanctioned when he said ABC management has bowed to “a group of lawyers lobbying for a foreign power”.
“I don’t know,” he responded to both.
Mr Latimer disagreed with a suggestion by Mr Fagir that the reason Lattouf was “treated differently in being given the direction” not to post to social media was because “she held opinions sympathetic to the human rights of the Palestinian people and opinions critical of the conduct of the State of Israel in the Gaza conflict”.
Mr Fagir also suggested this was the reason Lattouf was removed from the air. “That is not true,” Mr Latimer responded.
The case will be adjourned until February 27 for closing submissions.
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