Court D-Day arrives for Antoinette Lattouf over ABC sacking
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Journalist Antoinette Lattouf will today learn her fate after she sued the ABC over their decision to take her from the air in the wake of a series of pro-Palestine social media posts.
Ms Lattouf sued the ABC in the Federal Court after she was sent home for the final two days of a five-day stint on ABC Radio's Sydney Mornings program in the lead up to Christmas in 2023.
Ms Lattouf was called up as a fill-in host for five shifts starting on Monday, December 18, but was told not to come in for the final two shows.
She had claimed she was unlawfully dismissed after sharing a post on social media by Human Rights Watch reading: 'HRW reporting starvation as a tool of war.
'The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza'
She says that she was sacked after sharing the post about the Israel-Gaza war and as a result of a flurry of emails from pro-Israel supporters.
Justice Darryl Rangiah is due to hand down his findings in the Federal Court on Wednesday morning.
The ABC argued that Ms Lattouf's employment was not terminated and that when she was told that she was not required to appear on air on Thursday, December 21 and Friday, December 22, it was not motivated by her political opinions.
Antoinette Lattouf sued the ABC for unlawful termination. Picture: NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone.
Ms Lattouf's legal team argued that she was rendered 'pretty much unemployable' as a result of the saga having been accused of misconduct by the ABC.
She argues that she suffered 'significant pain, hurt, humiliation and distress as a result of the egregious treatment meted out to her by the ABC' and that her 'reputation was sullied'.
Ms Lattouf was asking the court for $100,000 to $150,000 for non-economic loss.
In the Federal Court her legal team alleged former ABC chair Ita Buttrose, then-managing director David Anderson and head of content Chris Oliver-Taylor made the decision to axe her after receiving a host of complaints about her pro-Palestinian politics.
During the blockbuster trial, the court heard that Ms Buttrose fired off an email to managing editor David Anderson on Tuesday, December 19.
'Has Antoinette been replaced. I am over getting emails about her,' Ms Buttrose said in the email.
Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
During her evidence, Ms Buttrose denied that this was proof that she wanted Ms Lattouf fired.
'If I wanted somebody removed, I'd be franker than that,' Ms Buttrose told the court at the time.
The court heard that Mr Anderson replied: 'Antoinette will finish up on Friday. It's a managed exit given the situation. I can explain more tomorrow.'
Ms Buttrose followed it up with another email at 9.59pm: 'I have a whole clutch more of complaints. Why can't she come down with flu? Or Covid. Or a stomach upset? We owe her nothing, we are copping criticism because she wasn't honest when she was appointed.
'Managed exit. Really.
'I don't like emailing you late but I am wrapping present. We should be in damage control not managed exits David.'
Ex-ABC managing director David Anderson. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
Much of the case centred on what Ms Lattouf was told in a telephone conversation with her boss, then ABC Radio Sydney content director Elizabeth Green, on the afternoon of Monday December 18 – the day of the first of her five shifts.
Ms Green told the court that she told Ms Lattouf: 'Obviously as an ABC presenter, you need to be impartial, that includes on social media. I wouldn't give anyone any ammunition for complaints, so would be best if you don't post anything related to the Israel/Palestine situation on social media while you're with us.'
While Ms Lattouf told the court that she was told by Ms Green: 'It's probably best that you keep a low profile on Twitter and maybe don't tweet anything.'
The court heard that following the discovery of some of Ms Lattouf's social media posts, Mr Oliver-Taylor texted Mr Anderson on Wednesday, December 20 saying that Ms Lattouf had: 'breached our editorial policies while in our employment.
'She also failed to follow a direction from her producer not to post anything while working with the ABC. As a result of this, I have no option but to stand her down.'
Ms Lattout was paid for all five shifts.
'On Wednesday, 20 December 2023, Ms Lattouf was advised that she would not be required to present on Thursday, 21 December 2023 and Friday, 22 December 2023, being the last two shifts of the engagement,' the ABC's lawyers said in its submissions to the court.
'That is, the ABC altered the work that Ms Lattouf was required to undertake on the last two shifts by not requiring her to undertake any work – as it was contractually expressly entitled to do.'
The ABC has asked the court to dismiss Ms Lattouf's lawsuit.
Originally published as Court D-Day arrives for Antoinette Lattouf over ABC sacking
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
24 minutes ago
- ABC News
Sussan Ley's 'I'm not Dutton' speech
As the Donald Trump brokered Israel-Iran ceasefire looks to be on shaky ground, NATO members have rolled out the red carpet for the US President's visit. And Sussan Ley has delivered her first address to the National Press Club as Opposition leader, and as PK and David Speers discuss, it marked a clear departure from her predecessor. But gender quotas and net zero are set to remain sticky issues for the Coalition leader. Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now. Got a burning question? Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@
ABC News
25 minutes ago
- ABC News
Tasmanian debt to be $3 billion worse than Liberal government's projection, Treasury PEFO finds
Tasmania's debt position is expected to be $3 billion worse by 2028 than projected in last month's state budget, according to the state's Treasury and Finance Department. In its 2025 Pre-election Financial Outlook (PEFO), Treasury projects Tasmania's net debt will reach $13 billion by 2027-28. The recent state budget, which was released last month and did not pass parliament before a no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff succeeded, estimated Tasmania would have net debt of $10.2 billion by 2027-28. The PEFO report, which lays bare the state's finances at the beginning of an election campaign, has found the budget has a structural problem and that "as a state, we are spending more than we earn and the gap is growing". "Expenses, significantly driven by health demand and costs, are growing at a faster rate than the state's current sources of revenue," the report stated. "This structural problem will not be resolved through future economic growth. Explicit policy choices are required. The report also found that without any intervention, expenditure on borrowing costs would rise from $230.9 million in 2024-25 to $697.9 million in 2027-28. "This will reduce the state's ability to manage economic shocks and to provide services to the community in the future." It said measures to both raise more money and cut spending will be crucial to getting the state's finances back on track. The report is based on the latest Revised Estimates Report, delivered in February this year, and does not account for decisions taken in the recent state budget. It uses historical averages to project the likely increases in expenditure and revenue. Treasurer Guy Barnett said the PEFO showed that the Liberals had taken "strong action". "The government was taking the action required, and as demonstrated by the 2025-26 Budget, a range of measures proposed by the government would've seen a sensible return to surplus," he said. The recent state budget included a $1.008 billion deficit in the upcoming financial year and continued deficits across the forward estimates. Labor's Treasury spokesperson Josh Willie said it showed the "Liberals' budget mess was even worse than they were admitting". "The Liberals asked parliament for an additional half-a-billion dollars just months after the budget was handed down because they'd fudged the figures," he said. He said Labor would be releasing its fiscal strategy soon. In the PEFO report, Treasury said both revenue and expenditure measures would be required to address the structural problem in the budget. It found the state's public service was "larger than Tasmania could afford" and not sustainable. "Clear prioritisation and service choices, and improved planning and delivery of services by a more efficient State Service that is sized at a sustainable level, can enable effective expenditure constraint." While the Liberal Party had floated asset sales over the past year, both major parties have now pledged not to sell any government businesses if they win the upcoming state election. Treasury said they could be considered, but needed to be assessed to consider debt and service impacts. Independent economist Saul Eslake said the PEFO was "vindication" of his review of the state's finances last year, which found they were on track to be the worst in the nation. He said all aspiring parliamentarians needed to present a plan to right the budget ship during the election campaign and refrain from splashy promises. "Last year, in the equivalent report, [Tasmania's Treasury secretary] Gary Swain specifically pointed to the role that election spending commitments had made at the 2018 and 2021 elections to the deterioration in Tasmania's financial position," he said. Mr Eslake pointed to Treasury downgrading its economic and population growth measures in this report as proof that more substantive measures were needed. "The Treasury secretary is quite clear that Tasmania cannot grow its way out of the debt position that it now finds itself in, not least because economic growth doesn't have much impact on the revenue that the state government collects," he said.
The Australian
39 minutes ago
- The Australian
City of Sydney to ban gas appliances in all new homes from 2026
The City of Sydney has unanimously voted to ban gas appliances in all new homes within months, joining a growing list of councils moving toward all-electric buildings. Under proposed new planning rules, developers will be required to install electric cooktops, ovens, and indoor heating and cooling systems in new homes. The changes are set to take effect from January 1, 2026. Gas hot water systems will still be permitted for the time being. The resolution was passed unanimously by councillors at a meeting on Monday night. The move is part of a broader shift by local governments in NSW toward building electrification. Sydney becomes the seventh council in the state to adopt similar requirements, following others including the City of Canada Bay, which introduced its own controls earlier this month. Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore says the change to all-electric buildings is a 'logical next step'. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Lord Mayor Clover Moore welcomed the new rules, which would require new residential buildings, large commercial buildings and hotels in the City of Sydney to be all-electric by January 1, 2027. 'Relying on fossil fuel gas is bad for the planet, bad for our finances and bad for our health,' she said. 'Ensuring all-electric buildings into the future is simply a logical next step to take. 'These changes will create healthier and more energy-efficient buildings, which will meet future energy standards and avoid expensive retrofitting,' 'They also spare households from being locked into increasingly expensive gas prices and potential shortages.' The new rules will not apply to industrial uses or existing buildings. The council cited modelling commissioned by climate group 350 Australia, which estimates that new households in the City of Sydney could save an average of $626 annually on energy bills under the new rules. The report also projects a reduction of up to 1.7 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in a 40-year period. 'Gas is a dirty fossil fuel that has no place in homes. Stopping new gas connections is a no-brainer for cutting emissions and making sure our homes aren't making us sick,' 350 Australia Electrify Your Council campaign manager James Conlan said. 'Only developers and gas corporations benefit from keeping our homes and businesses connected to gas.' Gas appliances will be banned in all new homes. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer The City of Sydney will also begin consulting the public on a further proposal to expand electrification requirements to cover all appliances - including hot water systems - in new homes, with the commercial building proposals open for public comment from June 30. Medical professionals have supported the move, citing health concerns linked to gas appliances. Neurologist and Doctors for the Environment Australia board member Shaun Watson said indoor gas use contributes to respiratory issues. 'Burning gas in the home releases carbon dioxide which is heating the planet,' Dr Watson said. 'Gas used in the home also releases nitrogen dioxide, benzene and formaldehyde which are known to trigger childhood asthma. 'City of Sydney has just placed itself on the right side of history in the transition towards renewables and electrification which will help the environment and improve people's health.' While the NSW government has yet to adopt a statewide policy, the growing number of councils introducing local measures is increasing pressure for broader reform, with similar bans on new gas connections already introduced in Victoria and the ACT. Amelia Swan Journalist Amelia Swan joined News Corp as a cadet reporter in 2024. Amelia Swan
