<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>337793</docID> <postdate>2025-02-07 13:23:14</postdate> <headline>ABC exec denies knowing presenter’s views on Gaza war</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-337794" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250207185630718839-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Chris Oliver-Taylor said he was only concerned with impartiality when pulling a presenter off air. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Duncan Murray</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>The ABC executive who removed a casual presenter over a post accusing Israel of using starvation tactics did not know her exact views on the Gaza war before she was dismissed, a court has heard.</strong></p> <p>Antoinette Lattouf was hired to fill a five-day timeslot on the Mornings show on ABC Radio Sydney in December 2023.</p> <p>The 41-year-old was dismissed after three days on air after sharing a Human Rights Watch post on Instagram saying Israel had used starvation as a "weapon of war" in Gaza.</p> <p>She is suing the ABC in the Federal Court for unfair dismissal, seeking penalties and damages.</p> <p>Giving evidence on Friday, the ABC's outgoing content chief, Chris Oliver-Taylor, told the court he did not know exactly what Lattouf's views on the war were when he made the decision not to put her back on air.</p> <p>"I'm not an expert in the Israel-Gaza war," he said.</p> <p>"I'm not an expert in nuances of the debate. I don't want to suggest I know Ms Lattouf's views either way, I don't.</p> <p>"I was concerned about impartiality on the ABC."</p> <p>Mr Oliver-Taylor also denied being aware that at the time the ABC had received specific complaints from a pro-Israel lobby about Lattouf, adding he was unaware that she was of Lebanese background.</p> <p>Lattouf's barrister Oshie Fagir asked if Mr Oliver-Taylor had been told by someone to refuse to acknowledge Lattouf's position on the war and to repeat the "catchphrase of impartiality".</p> <p>"I don't agree with that statement," he replied.</p> <p>Prior to Lattouf being stood aside, ABC managing director David Anderson forwarded screenshots of some of her posts to Mr Oliver-Taylor, telling him the ABC had an "Antoinette issue" and her social media feeds contained "anti-Semitic hatred".</p> <p>Mr Oliver-Taylor said he agreed the posts were an issue that might put the ABC in a position of appearing biased, but he said he had not viewed many of the posts himself.</p> <p>"My response was, I think this is hugely problematic," he said.</p> <p>"He uses words like 'full of anti-Semitic hatred' and I have the decision to make around do I put someone with those views unchecked on air within 10 hours."</p> <p>In an email on December 20, Mr Oliver-Taylor said issues with Lattouf remaining in her role included her position on the Gaza war and her signing of a petition calling for ethical reporting on Israel and Palestine.</p> <p>"It was her published views that meant there could be a perception of bias," he told the court</p> <p>The ABC's social media guidelines differentiate between employees' use of official accounts and their personal profiles, which are not subject to editorial policies.</p> <p>Mr Oliver-Taylor said the ABC did not require its employees to be impartial in every aspect of their lives, but there were circumstances where that requirement could extend further.</p> <p>"I think that if you are hosting a live radio show while holding particular positions – a journalist for example – there are certain topics which become very difficult to hold any published personal view," he said.</p> <p>While Mr Oliver-Taylor agreed Lattouf's role did not directly relate to the war, he said the issue might have come up while she was on air in the course of news bulletins.</p> <p>"It was the hottest subject in the world," he said.</p> <p>"A live morning show might need to reflect and respond to breaking news and live events."</p> <p>Mr Oliver-Taylor has since resigned and will be leaving ABC at the end of February.</p> <p>The hearing continues before Justice Darryl Rangiah.</p> </body>