The Fair Work Commission has determined that freelance journalist Antoinette Lattouf was improperly dismissed by the ABC while she was partway through a radio hosting job in Sydney last year. This ruling opens the door for Lattouf to pursue a case against the broadcaster for unlawful termination in the Federal Court. The ABC, however, contends that its actions were justified, citing non-compliance by Ms. Lattouf with a directive regarding her social media use.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00 Flanked by lawyers, Antoinette Latouf took on the ABC in the Fair Work Commission earlier
00:08 this year, claiming she was unfairly dismissed because of a social media post about the war
00:14 in Gaza.
00:15 The case has attracted protesters, both against and in support of the presenter.
00:20 "Free, free Gaza!"
00:22 Today, the commission has ruled Ms Latouf was sacked.
00:25 She was hired for five days in December, but was taken off air on day three.
00:30 Ms Latouf claimed the ABC told her she'd breached social media policy, with this post
00:36 on her personal Instagram, reshared from a Human Rights Watch account.
00:41 The ABC argued Ms Latouf was not terminated because she was paid for her remaining shifts.
00:47 But the commission's deputy president, Gerard Boyce, has rejected that.
00:51 The applicant was not allocated any further or other work to perform, and she was asked
00:56 to politely leave sooner rather than later.
00:59 Ms Latouf has released a statement.
01:01 "I am bitterly disappointed that I was fired for posting a fact the ABC itself was also
01:07 reporting.
01:08 The truth isn't always convenient or comfortable, but it doesn't stop being factual."
01:13 Today's decision paves the way for Antoinette Latouf to pursue the ABC here in the federal
01:19 court.
01:20 The lawyers have already filed a second case, arguing the ABC breached its enterprise agreement
01:26 by firing her without notifying her in writing.
01:29 Today's decision didn't rule on whether complaints about Ms Latouf from pro-Israel
01:34 lobbyists led to her sacking.
01:37 In a statement, the ABC says it acted on the basis of a belief that Ms Latouf had not complied
01:42 with a direction about her social media use, and it will continue to defend the matter
01:47 in the federal court.
01:48 The ABC has not responded to a request for comment.
01:49 The ABC has not responded to a request for comment.
01:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]