Antoinette Lattouf takes ABC to trial over anti-Israel post
Journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal claim against the ABC will go to trial after mediation talks failed following her sacking over an anti-Israel post.
Former ABC journalist Antoinette Lattouf arrives at the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Lattouf called Tuesday’s failed mediation efforts with the public broadcast “incredibly disheartening”, but she said she would not stop in her campaign.
“Despite how hard this has been on me and how unfair it is, let me be clear – I WILL NOT STOP,” she said in a statement posted on social media.
“I will not stop fighting for press freedom. I will not stop fighting for human rights.
“I won’t stop fighting for a brave and independent ABC, a public broadcaster that doesn’t bow to lobby groups.”
Lattouf was contracted by the ABC for a fill-in position on the Sydney mornings radio program between December 18 and 22.
But she was dismissed three days into the contract after sharing a Human Rights Watch post on her Instagram page alleging the Israeli government used starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza.
She subsequently lodged cases for unfair dismissal against the broadcaster in the Federal Court and with the Fair Work Commission.
In a statement of claim presented to the court, Lattouf alleged the ABC contravened its own enterprise agreement and fair work laws for terminating her contract when she had not engaged in misconduct.
She claimed she was told by an ABC manager that the broadcaster had received “a large number of complaints from pro-Israel lobbyists” about her being on air before her dismissal.
The journalist said she was advised at the meeting she should “keep a low profile on Twitter” but could post information from reputable sources such as Amnesty International.
Previous attempts by the ABC to argue Lattouf was not “terminated” within the meaning of the relevant law due to her being on a casual contract were dismissed by the Fair Work Commission.
The ABC declined to comment on the case.
