Your ABC hard at work: Employees down tools in support of ‘sacked’ casual diversity campaigner – but there’s a simple reason Lattouf was punted as fill-in host

The ABC has hit back at sacked presenter Antoinette Lattouf’s wrongful dismissal claim, describing it as ‘fundamentally and completely misconceived’ – as dozens of the national broadcaster’s staff are threatened with walking out over her treatment.

Ms Lattouf was fired three days into her week-long stint as host on ABC Sydney’s morning show on December 20 over an Instagram post she made. The message was linked to a human rights report that accused Israelis of “using civilian starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza.”

She then launched a Fair Work claim, claiming she was dismissed because of her political views and her Lebanese heritage.

But the ABC said its claim was “without merit” in legal documents filed by the broadcaster with the Fair Work Commission.

The broadcaster claimed that ‘any ‘political views’ expressed by (Ms Lattouf) were completely irrelevant to (and played no part in) the ABC’s decision’.

On Tuesday afternoon, about 80 ABC employees at the organization’s Ultimo headquarters in Sydney threatened a strike over concerns about “outside interference” and the organization’s handling of complaints against staff (pictured). Above, you set up the tools and pose for a photo

‘The ABC has decided not to require (Ms Lattouf) to perform the last two of her five shifts as an informal presenter because (she) had failed or refused to follow up on directions she did not post on social media on controversial issues during During the short period she presented a radio program on the radio station ‘ABC Sydney”, according to the submitted defense.

The broadcaster’s response came shortly after it emerged that a coordinated campaign by Jewish lawyers had tried to have Ms Lattouf fired.

Secret WhatsApp messages from a 156-strong Australian group called Lawyers for Israel revealed how they bombarded ABC chairman Ita Buttrose with emails threatening legal action unless the presenter was fired.

On Tuesday afternoon, about 80 ABC employees at the organization’s Ultimo headquarters in Sydney are said to have threatened to stage a strike over concerns about “outside interference” and the organization’s handling of complaints against staff.

‘MEAA media members at the ABC today called on director David Anderson to urgently meet with staff and address growing concerns about outside interference and culturally unsafe management practices and to stand up for journalism without fear or favour’ , the union wrote on X.

That same day, Ms Lattouf shared, later deleted, a post on her Instagram account from comedian Dan Ilic, who wrote: ‘This saga will end with the firing of Ita (Buttrose) and David Anderson because they forgot what their job was.’

Ms Lattouf, who is described in her Fair Work claim as a ‘multi-award winning journalist, with many years of experience in television, radio and podcast news and current affairs’, has so far raised almost $54,000 for her legal battle.

The case will be heard by Gerard Boyce, the deputy chairman of the Fair Work Commission.

Boyce is no stranger to controversy, having previously been criticized for displaying a life-size cutout of former US President Donald Trump in his office.

Secret WhatsApp messages from a 156-strong Australian group called Lawyers for Israel revealed how they bombarded ABC chairman Ita Buttrose (pictured) with emails threatening legal action unless Ms Lattouf was fired

He was also forced to remove scantily clad erotic statues he painted from his office and investigated and later acquitted of charges that he had set off fireworks at a drunken work Christmas party.

In her Fair Work claim, Ms Lattouf claims she was called to a meeting with ABC executives on December 20 where she was told of her dismissal after sharing the HRW report.

Her claim indicates that this decision was made “despite ABC Online publishing an article the previous day headlined Israel-Gaza war: Human Rights Watch says hunger is being used by Israeli government as ‘a weapon of war.’

‘After the meeting, Ms Green (Elizabeth Green, content director of ABC Local Radio Sydney) said to Ms Lattouf: “It went over my head, it was David Anderson. I know I shouldn’t be telling you this,” according to De Fair Work claim by Mrs Lattouf.

But the ABC firmly rejects that Mr Anderson, the director, made this decision, claiming Ms Green had ‘no knowledge’ as to whether he was involved.

Ms Lattouf’s claim will be heard by Gerard Boyce (pictured), the deputy chairman of the Fair Work Commission, who once had a life-size cardboard cutout of Donald Trump in his office

“Mr David Anderson (ABC director) did not make the decision that (Ms Lattouf) should not complete the last two of her casual shifts,” the ABC’s legal defense filing states, with “not” endorsed on both occasions.

‘Indeed, Ms Green did not inform (Ms Lattouf) that Mr Anderson had made the decision that the applicant should not perform the last two of her services.

‘During a conversation with (Ms Lattouf) after the meeting on Wednesday 20 December 2023, Ms Green (in an attempt to comfort (Ms Lattouf) and confirm that the decision had not been taken lightly) said words to (Ms Lattouf) the following effect: “these types of matters are taken very seriously and these types of decisions can be referred all the way to the doctor’s office.”‘

It later adds: ‘The suggestion that the ABC took action against (Ms LAttouf) on the basis of her race, national origin or social origin is abhorrent.’

“In any event, it appears that (Ms Lattouf) is attempting to bring an unfair dismissal claim under the guise of an unfair dismissal claim because she is unable to bring an unfair dismissal claim,” the statement said.

Do you know more about this story? Max.Aitchison@mailonline.com