ABC scrambles to reassure staff amid Lattouf revelations

The ABC has scrambled to reassure staff that it does not “deny the existence of any race”, as the national broadcaster’s unlawful termination trial against sacked former presenter Antoinette Lattouf rolls on in the Federal Court. 

Deena Amorelli, the chief people officer at the ABC, sent an all-staff email at 11:30am on Thursday to clarify the ABC’s position, owing to having “a number of staff raise concerns with me regarding the current proceedings in the Federal Court brought by Ms Antoinette Lattouf”. 

“On Monday, Ms Lattouf’s legal team made submissions that may have been interpreted, by some staff and commentators, as suggesting that the ABC denies that certain races exist. I want to assure you that the ABC is not of that view,” Amorelli wrote.

Ian Neil SC, appearing for the ABC in court on Wednesday, also further stressed that “the ABC does not deny the existence of any race”, clarifying that it was a legal point that it argues Lattouf has to prove. 

In response to Lattouf’s claim that she was terminated for reasons including her race as a Lebanese, Arab or Middle Eastern woman, the ABC argues that Lattouf bears the onus of proving that such a race exists for the purposes of the Fair Work Act, and that she hadn’t done so. 

“There is therefore no basis on which to find, as a fact, that there is a Lebanese, Arab, or Middle Eastern ‘race’ within the meaning of s772(1)(f) [of the Fair Work Act]”, the ABC’s submissions to the court state. 

Amorelli’s email stated “the ABC has a strong commitment to diversity, which includes many cultures, races, and communities within our workforce, and we will continue to work with staff to foster inclusion at all levels of the ABC.” 

The email, several copies of which have been seen by Crikey, included an email signature featuring a promotional image for Optics, a recently released ABC comedy series about two young women unexpectedly promoted to run a crisis management PR firm, starring Jenna Owen, Vic Zerbst and Charles Firth.

Anderson questioned about email, Lebanese race

ABC managing director David Anderson was shown the email while giving evidence in Federal Court on Thursday afternoon, saying that it was the first time he had seen the communication.

When asked by Lattouf’s lawyer whether he believes there is a Lebanese race, Anderson said he had not formed a view one way or another but that: “When people identify as Lebanese I don’t question it, I accept that as a statement … I know the meaning of it is that there is Lebanese heritage that they are referring to.”

Asked whether the ABC’s treatment of Lattouf has impacted the reputation of the organisation, Anderson said: “I don’t believe it has undermined [the ABC’s] independence. I think the outcome of this trial will determine whether or not it’s affected the ABC’s integrity.”

‘Disturbed’ ABC staff hold union meeting

The email has done little to soothe ABC staff who are “disturbed” by the revelations in court about the actions of management, reflecting what was described as an “us vs them” atmosphere within the organisation.

One source inside the ABC told Crikey: “It confirms what many of us have suspected: that management do not have our back and will preemptively buckle to outside pressure, political or otherwise.

The source said witness testimonies have revealed a “total breakdown” in the process of investigating complaints against Lattouf, and the chain of command involved in her termination. “[Outgoing chief content officer] Chris Oliver-Taylor basically took this on himself, which is a pretty egregious breach of process [and] the interventionist role of the chair in this sort of panicked micro-management is also pretty alarming.”

Another ABC insider said testimony in court paints the organisatoin as one “aware that it’s under existential threat, attempting to appease those who hate it, at the expense of common sense”.

On Thursday afternoon, hours after the email was sent, unionised staff held a meeting concerning the Lattouf saga, with non-union members able to attend. Almost 200 staff attended the virtual meeting from locations across the country. 

The invitation, seen by Crikey, read: “Come to an important union meeting to discuss how management continue to let down diverse staff, bypassed the proper complaints process, and bowed to outside lobby groups when facing pressure. Interference in the ABC’s editorial process is an attack against us all.”

One attendee told Crikey that while the tone of the meeting was one of solidarity with Lattouf, there was also disappointment and anger over the events. “[There was] anger at how this court case has damaged the reputation of the ABC, and a deep desire to see senior management grow a spine when it comes from attacks from news organisations like The Australian.”

In the meeting, staff demanded an apology for comments made about Lebanese, Arab and Middle Eastern people not having a race, and called for systemic, “top-down” change at the ABC.

“If any good can come of it, it’s that a much needed spotlight is being shone on the behaviour and decisions of management-level staff,” said the attendee. “There is a complaints system in place to handle things transparently — that there’s also apparently a ‘special hotline’ for the privileged to deal direct with senior management is beyond the pale.”

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