Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose and managing director David Anderson expected to give evidence in Antoinette Lattouf court case
The ABC’s key leaders are expected to give evidence in the upcoming trial over the axing of controversial fill-in radio host Antoinette Lattouf.
Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose and managing director David Anderson have been labelled as key “decision makers” involved in the sacking of controversial fill-in radio host Antoinette Lattouf, a court has heard.
Lattouf has taken legal action against the ABC in the Federal Court over claims she was unfairly dismissed by the public broadcaster in December last year after she shared a social media post relating to the Israel—Hamas war.
She shared a post by Human Rights Watch with a caption that read, “HRW reporting starvation as a tool of war” and later had her employment terminated.
On Monday Lattouf’s barrister Philip Boncardo told the Federal Court Ms Buttrose and Mr Anderson were involved in the axing of Lattouf on December 20 last year.
“It is our contention that Ms Buttrose, the chair of the ABC, and Mr Anderson, the managing director, were either themselves decision makers or materially involved in the decision-making process,” he said.
“It is likely that at least eight, if not all of the witnesses for the respondent would be required for cross-examination.”
The ABC’s chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor was named as the main decision maker in the sacking of Lattouf.
In Lattouf’s updated statement of claim, which was filed last week, it said she held political opinions including “opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, supporting Palestinians’ human rights, questioning the authenticity of footage of demonstrators chanting antisemitic chants at the Sydney Opera House”.
Lattouf, who is a Lebanese, Arab and Middle Eastern woman, was filling in for ABC Sydney’s mornings host Sarah Macdonald for five days in December last year when she was sacked after she completed the third of five shifts.
The court documents outlined that on December 20 Mr Oliver-Taylor sent Mr Anderson a text message stating that Lattouf “has breached our editorial policies whilst in our employment” and he had “no option but to stand her down”.
Mr Oliver-Taylor said Lattouf had failed to abide by instructions from her producer not to post anything while working at the ABC.
Mr Anderson later had a phone call with Mr Oliver-Taylor and agreed with his proposed course of action.
The Australian reported at the time of Lattouf’s sacking complaints were raised with the ABC board - including the then chair Ms Buttrose - about Lattouf’s conduct including the decision for the broadcaster to hire her.
On Monday the matter, before Justice Darryl Rangiah, heard that nine affidavits had been filed by the respondents.
The ABC’s barrister, Ian Neil, said there will be a “contest” relating to claims by Lattouf’s lawyers that “the respondent’s case is that (the) decision maker was Mr Oliver-Taylor and it puts in issue any suggestion that there was either another or other decision-makers.”
The trial has been set down to begin on February 3 and run for five days.
There will then be a further two days for submissions on February 27 and 28.
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Originally published as Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose and managing director David Anderson expected to give evidence in Antoinette Lattouf court case
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