Key events
Five things we’ve learned this week in court
Just to bring everyone up to speed, Lattouf was cross-examined for five gruelling hours over two days, here you can read about five things we have learned from her sometimes tense, sometimes tearful testimony.
Amanda Meade
Three top ABC executives scheduled to give evidence
Anderson is the outgoing managing director who is finishing up next month after a 35-year career at the broadcaster, during which he rose from the mailroom to mahogany row.
He was appointed for a second term on 1 July 2023, and was supposed to be in the role until July 2028 but resigned months after Kim Williams joined the ABC as chair.
He is not the only one of the ABC witnesses to be caught up in the trial despite having either left or be in the process of leaving.
Williams’ predecessor Ita Buttrose, who left the ABC almost a year ago, is set to give her evidence on Friday.
Content chief Chris Oliver-Taylor, who scheduled to appear after Anderson, is also almost out the door.
What we can expect in court today
Amanda Meade
The Antoinette Lattouf v ABC hearing continues today in Sydney’s federal court with the ABC managing director, David Anderson, the next witness to be called.
The hearing schedule is already a day behind, the court was told yesterday, as Lattouf’s cross-examination lasted five hours and extended over two days.
Lattouf’s barrister Oshie Fagir said:
The party’s schedule has been completely exploded. We’re a day behind after two days.
Lattouf was taken off-air three days into a five-day casual contract in December 2023 after she posted on social media about the Israel-Gaza war, which the ABC said was a failure to follow a direction from a manager not to post.
The federal court heard yesterday that Lattouf disputes that she was given a direction, claiming her manager Elizabeth Green merely suggested she stick to factual posts only.
Lattouf took her case to the Fair Work Commission, which found last year she was sacked but did not rule on whether it was an unlawful termination.
The ABC argued at the commission that Lattouf was not sacked because she was paid for the full five days of her contract.
Green’s evidence is scheduled for Thursday.
Welcome
Amanda Meade
Hi, I’m Amanda Meade, media correspondent, I’m watching day three of the Antoinette Lattouf v ABC unfair termination trial today.
We will bring you all the evidence as it unfolds from 10.15am though to 4.15pm.
Witnesses today include two ABC chiefs David Anderson and chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor, both of who are on the verge of leaving the ABC after early resignations.
