A federal court case involving journalist Antoinette Lattouf and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has highlighted the complexities of the public broadcaster's internal procedures and its approach to journalistic standards. Lattouf's dismissal 14 months ago, after just five on-air shifts, sparked allegations of inconsistencies in how the ABC handles public commentary from different staff members.
After week one of the unlawful dismissal claim, we know this: the ABC appears to have departed from its own standards in the defence of its standards
All ABC staff are subjected to multiple layers of oversight. Anderson told the court the policing of standards, including impartiality, is not “arbitrary”, but ultimately comes down to “judgment”. Another example was global affairs editor Lyons’ assessment of this very case: that the ABC had bowed to “a group of lawyers lobbying for a foreign power”.Anderson hoped to explain how other high-profile ABC staff who have commented on contentious issues have been treated differently to Antoinette Lattouf.The ABC denies that framing, but Anderson acknowledged what he called a “campaign” of complaints about Lattouf from the first day of her five scheduled on-air shifts.
By that Monday evening, Anderson told the court, he made his own investigation of Lattouf’s social media history. In emails tabled to the court, then ABC chair Ita Buttrose told Anderson she was “over” receiving complaints about Lattouf, and wondered why she “couldn’t come down with flu or Covid or a stomach upset” and be taken off air.
Lattouf was then taken off air by Oliver-Taylor. She was paid but told not to return for her two remaining shifts.Oliver-Taylor, who was still giving evidence at the time of writing, says he was between a “rock and a hard place” when it came to Lattouf’s position as a casual presenter on ABC Radio Sydney, adding he was receiving “pressure from above” about Lattouf’s appointment.
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