Antoinette Lattouf, a fill-in presenter for ABC Radio Sydney, was dismissed after just three days on air following an Instagram post by Human Rights Watch, which accused Israel of using starvation as a “weapon of war” in Gaza. Her former supervisor, Elizabeth Green, who now serves as executive producer of the Sydney Drive show, testified in Lattouf’s unlawful dismissal case that she did not perceive any issues with Lattouf’s post. Green indicated that Lattouf’s dismissal was influenced by pressure from higher management, specifically mentioning that the decision originated from the office of outgoing ABC managing director David Anderson.
During these proceedings, Lattouf asserted that her termination was a result of her political views and ethnicity, claiming that the ABC capitulated to the demands of pro-Israeli lobbyists. She is seeking compensation from the broadcaster. In its defence, the ABC contended that Lattouf was removed from air because she violated a directive requiring her to avoid commenting on the Israel-Gaza conflict during her short employment. While Green had previously advised Lattouf to refrain from any posts related to this topic, she acknowledged that Lattouf could discuss fact-based matters from reputable sources. The case raised critical questions about the decision-making process behind Lattouf’s termination.