‘A waste of taxpayers’ money’: Fair Work Commission rules on Antoinette Lattouf’s ABC case
The Fair Work Commission has ruled that Antoinette Lattouf was dismissed by the ABC.
Per news.com.au, in a statement issued on Monday, the Fair Work Commission said the presenter was terminated by the public broadcaster when she was taken off air during a five-day freelance stint at ABC Sydney late last year after sharing a social media post accusing Israel as using starvation as a “weapon of war”.
The ABC’s claims that Lattouf was not fired, but simply taken off air as she “failed or refused to comply with directions that she not post on social media about matters of controversy during the short period she was presenting,” were dismissed.
Fair Work Commission deputy president, Gerard Boyce, said ABC’s chief content officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, “made the ultimate decision to take [Lattouf] ‘off air.'”
Lattouf, who is a Lebanese Australian, had been the subject of criticism by News Corp and the pro-Israel lobby for her reporting on the situation in Gaza.
She had been filling in on ABC Sydney breakfast radio for Sarah Macdonald in late December, but was informed she would not be returning to air after sharing pro-Palestine content on her social media account.
The ABC later confirmed Lattouf would not be “back on air for her remaining two shifts this week”.
Lattouf’s lawyer, Josh Bornstein from Maurice Blackburn, welcomed the Fair Work Commission’s findings, saying they will add the claim of unlawful termination currently before the Federal Court.
“If the court is satisfied that the ABC acted illegally, it has broad powers to make orders including reinstatement and compensation together with the ability to impose penalties,” Bornstein said.
Lattouf responded to the ruling in a social media post on Monday.
“I believe the ABC’s challenge was a waste of taxpayers’ money, causing unnecessary delays in my pursuit of truth and justice,” the post reads.
“I remain bitterly disappointed that I was fired for posting a fact that the ABC itself was also reporting, namely a report of Human Rights Watch about starvation as a tool of war.”
Mumbrella has contacted the ABC for comment.
The truth isn't always convenient or comfortable, but it doesn't stop being factual.#NoFearNoFavour pic.twitter.com/wDVcQVdFCY
— Antoinette Lattouf (@antoinette_news) June 3, 2024
Keep up to date with the latest in media and marketing
Got a tip?
Neil Griffiths is the Managing Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
Linkedin
Let’s face it: ABC is a political broadcaster of the Labor, Greens and Teal parties. I would not have a problem with this if ABC were a private enterprise and survived by a commercial venture. It is not. It’s taxpayer-funded. And as such, I zealously say, Defund the ABC [from the taxpayers]
User ID not verified.
Worth remembering why the ABC did what they did. They were bullied into this action by a secret WhatsApp group.
User ID not verified.
Have your say