Outgoing ABC boss David Anderson admitted to unfairly dismissing freelance journalist Antoinette Lattouf after she shared a Human Rights Watch post criticizing Israel's use of starvation as a 'weapon of war' in Gaza. Anderson faced questioning in a Federal Court hearing regarding Lattouf's dismissal, highlighting concerns about impartiality and potential for on-air conflict discussions.
Antoinette Lattouf was hired as a casual presenter for the Mornings show on ABC Radio Sydney over five days in December 2023. However, the 41-year-old was dismissed after three days on air after sharing a Human Rights Watch post on Instagram stating that Israel had used starvation as a 'weapon of war' in Gaza . Outgoing ABC boss David Anderson stepped back into the witness box during an unfair dismissal hearing in the Federal Court today.
Under questioning by Lattouf's barrister Oshie Fagir, the managing director said he believed the freelance journalist should not have been hired for live talkback radio. He expressed concerns that someone could have called Lattouf during her on-air shift to discuss the Gaza conflict, potentially making it difficult for the public broadcaster to maintain impartiality. After the ABC received a coordinated campaign of complaints channeled through a WhatsApp group, Anderson directed chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor to investigate Lattouf. Fagir asked, 'The thrust of each and every one of these (complaint) emails were that Ms Lattouf's criticisms of Israel were anti-Semitic.' While Oliver-Taylor's team concluded that Lattouf had not violated any of the ABC's policies, Anderson personally researched her online, browsing her Instagram account. He forwarded some screenshots to Oliver-Taylor, stating the ABC had an 'Antoinette issue' because her social media contained 'antisemitic hatred'. However, he refuted claims of personal offense, stating instead that he was 'challenged' by the comments. Measures were implemented to prevent Lattouf from discussing the Israel-Gaza conflict on air or posting about it online. After her third shift, she was terminated for allegedly breaching this directive by sharing the Human Rights Watch post.The broadcaster's boss acknowledged that her dismissal was 'abnormal' because she hadn't been given an opportunity to defend her actions. Fagir asked, 'You were not about to interrogate any decision to take her off air because that is exactly what you wanted?' The managing director was also scrutinized regarding an email he sent to then ABC chair Ita Buttrose, stating Lattouf would make a 'managed exit' even after purported measures were put in place to mitigate risk. In this email, he wrote that the broadcaster had been placed in an untenable, unacceptable position by hiring the Gaza advocate. Anderson denied that 'managed exit' referred to Lattouf leaving the ABC but instead meant managing any risk during her time there
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