<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338012</docID> <postdate>2025-02-11 15:28:56</postdate> <headline>Boss ‘disappointed’ about ABC criticism on Lattouf hire</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-338013" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250207189515877216-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Complaints said Antoinette Lattouf was anti-Semitic and she'd turn the ABC into a Hamas mouthpiece. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Miklos Bolza</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>A former ABC radio manager was not surprised that his decision to hire a fill-in host who was critical of Israel's conduct in Gaza was labelled "ill informed" by a senior executive, a court has been told.</strong></p> <p>Antoinette Lattouf was recruited to host the Mornings show on ABC Radio Sydney for five days in December 2023</p> <p>However, she was let go following three days on air after sharing an Instagram post by Human Rights Watch saying Israel used starvation as a "weapon of war" in Gaza.</p> <p>Barrister Philip Boncardo asked about internal ABC criticism of Antoinette Lattouf being hired. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)</p> <p>As her unlawful dismissal hearing continued in the Federal Court on Tuesday, ex-ABC head of capital city networks Steve Ahern was asked whether he was surprised by his superior's comments that his decision to hire Lattouf was "ill informed".</p> <p>"I wasn't surprised," he told Lattouf's barrister Philip Boncardo.</p> <p>"I was disappointed by the characterisation of me making an ill-informed decision, but that's the way these things go."</p> <p>He denied feeling pressure from the criticism, made by then content chief Chris Oliver-Taylor, or that he considered disciplinary action could have been taken against him as a result.</p> <p>Lattouf alleges that she was fired because of her political opinion and race after the ABC bowed to pressure from pro-Israeli lobbyists who co-ordinated a campaign of complaints against her.</p> <p>She is seeking compensation and penalties against the broadcaster.</p> <p>While the ABC contends she was ordered not to post about the Israel-Gaza conflict during her time there, she claims she was given no such direction.</p> <p>Lattouf said ABC Radio Sydney content director Elizabeth Green merely offered a suggestion to keep a low profile online but eventually agreed she could post facts from reputable sources.</p> <p>In court, Mr Ahern admitted he never specifically told Ms Green to direct Lattouf to avoid posting anything relating to Gaza on her social media accounts.</p> <p>However, he said his colleague had given "clear guidance" to the freelance journalist about her obligations to remain impartial and be careful in her social media activity.</p> <p>Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose will give evidence after Mr Ahern.</p> <p>Earlier on Tuesday, the ABC withdrew its defence that Lattouf's racial discrimination case should fail because she had not proved that there was a Lebanese, Middle-Eastern or Arab race or national extraction.</p> <p>The public broadcaster also made a formal apology after confidential information relating to those who complained about Lattouf's views on the war in Gaza were accidentally disclosed to the public.</p> <p>The details, which were suppressed by the Federal Court for the individuals' safety, were revealed on Monday in an affidavit by Mr Oliver-Taylor which attached complaints about Lattouf's previous social media and public statements.</p> <p>They labelled her as anti-Semitic and said hiring her would turn the broadcaster into a Hamas mouthpiece.</p> <p>Lattouf said in her court filings that she opposed the Israeli military campaign in Gaza and supported the human rights of Palestinians.</p> <p>Justice Darryl Rangiah expressed his displeasure that the details of some complainants had been made publicly viewable in the affidavit.</p> <p>"I am deeply unhappy about the error made by the ABC's legal representatives," the judge said.</p> <p>ABC barrister Ian Neil SC apologised on behalf of the organisation, saying the mistake was a result of human error.</p> <p>Lawyers swiftly contacted the court once they realised the confidential information was publicly available on the Federal Court's website, he said.</p> <p>"As leading counsel responsible for the presentation of the respondent's case, I stand before you this morning to tender my personal apology for what has happened," Mr Neil added.</p> </body>