ABC managing director David Anderson continues evidence in Antoinette Lattouf unlawful termination case
ABC managing director David Anderson has told an unlawful termination hearing he reviewed radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf’s social media feeds and grew concerned about material he believed “added up to antisemitism” prior to her removal from air.
Ms Lattouf is suing the broadcaster in the Federal Court after she did not present a morning program on ABC Radio Sydney for the last two days of a five-day casual contract in December 2023.
That decision came after the journalist shared a Human Rights Watch post on her personal Instagram which said starvation was being used as a tool of war in Gaza.
Her lawyers allege she was sacked due to her political opinions and/or race, which the ABC denies.
Mr Anderson, facing a second day of cross-examination by Ms Lattouf’s counsel Oshie Fagir, was today quizzed about his actions when the ABC began to receive complaints about Ms Lattouf, following her first show at the beginning of the week.
The court has previously heard he reviewed Ms Lattouf’s prior social media activity and messaged chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor about what he termed a potential “Antoinette problem”.
David Anderson gave evidence for a second day. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
He said he had come to the view there was antisemitic content on her social media feeds.
“Your view was that Ms Lattouf’s criticisms of Israel were antisemitic?” Mr Fagir asked.
Mr Anderson said it was difficult to recall specific criticism.
“But certainly her social feeds had antisemitic messages based within them,” he said.
“I remember whether it was Ms Lattouf or whether it was other people posting beyond Ms Lattouf, or her replies etc, but that to me added up to antisemitism that was sitting on her social feeds.”
Anderson worried Gaza conflict could be raised live on radio
Mr Anderson said he was concerned the subject may come up on live radio, even though there had been an email that day instructing that the subject was to be avoided.
He said he wanted Mr Oliver-Taylor to “effectively manage the risk that I could see”.
“How on earth is it that the managing director of this organisation tends to be trawling the social media accounts of a five-day casual?” Mr Fagir asked.
“Well I was concerned,” Mr Anderson replied.
He told the court he is personally “challenged” by the Israel-Gaza war and believes antisemitism should not exist.
ABC’s barrister Ian Neil SC arriving at the Federal Court on day four of proceedings. (ABC News: Sean Tarek Goodwin)
But his chief concern was “advocacy” may “play out in local radio”.
Mr Anderson told the judge he believed there was an “error of judgement” in putting Ms Lattouf in the contract, given there were other suitable people who hadn’t publicly expressed “partisan views on a contentious issue”.
Mr Fagir put to the witness that he had remained “on the warpath” even though he knew there were protections in place.
“I disagree with you, I was not still on the warpath. I had accepted the position. In fact, I had written that and communicated that certainly,” Mr Anderson said.
Mr Anderson had also testified that he was aware the complaints sent to the ABC were being generated from a WhatsApp group as part of a campaign.
Ms Lattouf has previously insisted a conversation she had with her direct manager, in which she was told it would be best to not post about Israel/Gaza, was not a direction.
She had given evidence that they agreed material from reputable sources would be OK.
Anderson questioned on existence of Lebanese race
Towards the end of his cross-examination, Mr Fagir asked Mr Anderson a series of questions about whether in his view there existed a Lebanese race.
That topic was previously raised in Mr Fagir’s opening statements when he referred to part of the ABC’s defence — and again by the ABC’s counsel, Ian Neil SC, who during his own opening statement yesterday said that in this case the ABC was not denying the existence of any race.
Mr Neil said the point being made was an issue about Ms Lattouf having an onus and said she had not equipped the court with any evidence upon which to resolve the issue.
Mr Anderson gave evidence that if somebody told him they were Lebanese, he did not question it, “whether they mean it’s race or national identity”.
“If someone presents it as being their race, I accept it as them presenting as being their race.”
He was asked whether the ABC’s dealings with Ms Lattouf had undermined the ABC’s reputation for independence and integrity.
“No, I don’t believe it’s undermined its reputation for independence,” Mr Anderson replied.
“I think the outcome of this trial will determine whether or not it’s affected the ABC’s integrity.”
The hearing, before Justice Darryl Rangiah, continues.
