‘Low profile’: ABC’s suggestion to sacked presenter Antoinette Lattouf revealed

Axed ABC fill-in presenter Antoinette Lattouf was told to keep a ‘low profile’ on social media during a stint on morning radio before she was days later sacked, a court has heard.

Freelance journalist Antoinette Lattouf says she was told by her manager to keep a “low profile” on social media during a fill-in stint with ABC Radio before she was days later sacked, a court has heard.

Ms Lattouf on Tuesday morning resumed her spot in the witness box in the Federal Court as part of her high-profile lawsuit against the ABC.

On day two of the hearing, she was again taken to her social media posts commenting on the Hamas-Israel conflict.

The court heard that on December 15, 2023, she posted a video from a pro-Palestinian protest at the Sydney Opera House which showed protesters chanting “gas the Jews”.

“You published a number of Instagram posts, including this one, in which you made the point that that video, insofar as it was reported to show protesters chanting ‘Gas, the Jews’, was unverified. Is that right?,” ABC barrister Ian Neil SC asked.

“Yes,” Ms Lattouf said.

On Monday, Ms Lattouf told the court that some of her social media posts would be considered “controversial” by some members of the Australian public.

Journalist Antoinette Lattouf is suing the ABC in the Federal Court. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short.

Ms Lattouf sued after she was sent home for the final two days of a five-day fill-in stint on ABC Radio’s Sydney Mornings program in December 2023.

She has claimed her sacking contravened the Fair Work Act and was motivated by complaints made during a campaign by the “pro-Israel lobby” because of her political beliefs and social media posts on the Gaza war.

She had claimed she was unlawfully sacked after sharing a post on Instagram by Human Rights Watch reading: “HRW reporting starvation as a tool of war.

“The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza.”

She was called to a meeting on December 20 and she says the ABC alleged she had breached the ABC’s social media policy

ABC fill-in presenter Antoinette Lattouf was sacked after three shifts. Picture: Instagram.

The court heard that she had a conversation with ABC Radio Sydney content director Elizabeth Green on Monday, December 18 - the first day of her five-day stint.

She says she was given a “heads up” that the “the ABC has been flooded with complaints from pro Israel lobbyists because we have put you on air.”

“I said to her, ‘have I done or said anything wrong’? She said, ‘No, I back you and your journalistic integrity’,” Ms Lattouf told the court on Tuesday.

Ms Lattouf further said she was further told by Ms Green: “Well, maybe keep a low profile on Twitter and maybe don’t post while you’re with us’.”

“To that, I respectfully, gently pushed back and said that I don’t think it’s fair to suggest that I don’t post,” Ms Lattouf told the court.

She says she told Ms Green that she would “stick to facts and sources” and avoid “conjecture or misinformation”.

“She said, ‘Oh, that’s fine’. She agreed that reputable sources were fine,” Ms Lattouf said.

Ms Lattouf denied that she was given a directive not to post on social media.

“What I’m putting to you now is that when she told you it would be best not to post or tweet at all, that you should posting all together, what was being communicated to you … was not a suggestion up for debate, it was a clear communication by Ms Green on behalf of the ABC, your employer, that you should not post at all,” Mr Neil asked.

“I disagree,” Ms Lattouf said.

The Instagram Antoinette Lattouf says she was sacked for. Picture: Supplied.

Her barrister Oshie Fagir on Monday told the court that Ms Lattouf lost her job as a result of a “campaign” against her and because “she has frequently spoken out about the conduct of Israel in Gaza.”

The court has heard she claims the decision to sack her was made by then ABC chair Ita Buttrose, ABC chief content officer Christopher Oliver-Taylor and managing director David Anderson.

Mr Fagir told the court that Mr Anderson took the “extraordinary” step of reviewing Ms Lattouf’s social media history.

Mr Anderson then wrote to Mr Oliver-Taylor saying “I think we have an Antoinette issue” and that her social media posts were full of “anti-Semitic hatred”.

Ex-ABC chair Ita Buttrose.

ABC managing director David Anderson. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman.

Mr Fagir told the court that in emails sent to Mr Anderson, Ms Buttrose said: “Has Antoinette been replaced? I’m over getting emails about her.”

He told the court that when Mr Anderson replied that she would finish up on Friday, Ms Buttrose said: “I have a whole clutch more complaints.

“Why can’t she come down with flu, or Covid or a stomach upset?

“We owe her nothing. We’re copping criticism because she wasn’t honest when she was appointed.”

The ABC argued that it had not terminated Ms Lattouf’s contract and it was entitled to act as it did according to her casual employment contract, and that she was paid for the full five days.

It says her employment “ended by effluxion of time at the conclusion of (Ms Lattouf’s) rostered shift on 22 December 2023.”

They argue the ABC did not seek advice from Human Resources or legal advice before terminating her.

The ABC denies it removed her because of her political opinion.

The hearing continues.

Originally published as ‘Low profile’: ABC’s suggestion to sacked presenter Antoinette Lattouf revealed