‘Totally untenable’: Calls for ABC head to step down following Antoinette Lattouf decision
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) has called for an ABC head to step down following the Fair Work Commission’s ruling on Antoinette Lattouf this week.
On Monday, the Commission ruled that Lattouf was terminated from her role as a fill-in radio presenter last December after she shared a social media post accusing Israel as using starvation as a “weapon of war”.
The ruling means that Lattouf will now be able to pursue an unfair dismissal case in Federal Court.
In a statement, acting director of MEAA Media, Michelle Rae, said ABC’s “mishandling” of Lattouf’s employment has damaged its “integrity and reputation”, while also taking aim at its head of content, Chris Oliver-Taylor.
“The Lattouf case continues a pattern of ABC journalists, particularly those from culturally diverse backgrounds, lacking support from management when they face criticism from lobby groups, business organisations and politicians,” Rae said.
“In the wake of the Fair Work Commission decision, the position of the person who authorised Ms Lattouf’s sacking, Chris Oliver-Taylor, is now totally untenable.
“He should step down immediately from his role as the ABC’s head of content.”
Rae’s comments come after a unionised group of 75 ABC journalists called for Oliver-Taylor to resign in March.
Meanwhile, the ABC issued its own statement following the Commission’s ruling, stressing it only dealt with jurisdictional issues.
“This dispute arises from a casual employee being advised they were not required to perform two shifts of a five shift engagement. Ms Lattouf was paid for all five shifts, including the two shifts not worked,” the statement reads.
“Ms Lattouf seeks compensation and penalties from the ABC along with orders that would compel the ABC to employ her in an equivalent role.
“The ABC has not acted on the basis of Ms Lattouf’s political opinion, race and/or national extraction or social origin. In response to the claim before the Commission, the ABC maintains that it acted on the basis of a belief that Ms Lattouf had not complied with a direction in relation to her use of social media. Those matters were not the subject of today’s decision.
“The ABC will continue to defend the claims by Ms Lattouf in the Federal Court.”
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Neil Griffiths is the editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
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How does this work? She was employed on a casual contract & she was paid out for all days that she was booked. How can that be unfair dismissal? Genuine question with regard to employment law
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This is totally wrong. Lattouf was asked and requested by her employer the ABC not to post political content and she ignored them and posted it.
If my employer requested I not do something and I did it I would expect to be terminated as she was. Why is this unfair dismissal? Typical narcissistic personality disorder where she thinks she can do what she wants without any repercussions. I hope the ABC wins in this case and she is forced to pay the legal costs.
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