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
f one thing has emerged from journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s quixotic battle with the ABC over her sacking 14 months ago, it is that the public broadcaster appears to be so weighed down by procedures, policy codes and guidelines that even senior management can’t keep up.
He hoped to explain how ABC stars such as Laura Tingle, John Lyons, Paul Barry – even new chair Kim Williams – have avoided sanction, despite making public comments on contentious issues in ways that Anderson said might be perceived as failing the corporation’s impartiality rules. It came from a pro-Israel lobby group, whose members have had their names suppressed by the federal court for 10 years to protect them from vilification and harassment.
He said he told his direct subordinate, Chris Oliver-Taylor, that the feed was “full of antisemitic hatred”.He said Lattouf’s criticisms challenged the existence of Israel, “which I do believe to be antisemitic”. Presssed again, he said the post had referred to the “unlawful occupation of Palestine”.
However, Anderson told the court he was convinced his subordinate managers had mitigated the risk. The court heard Lattouf’s immediate manager, Elizabeth Green, had advised – or directed – Lattouf not to post about Gaza while on air.
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