Mediation in the unlawful termination case between the ABC and the journalist Antoinette Lattouf reached a stalemate on Thursday.
Speaking outside her lawyers’ office in Sydney, Lattouf said the parties were not able to come to an agreement after entering Fair Work Commission mediation via video conference in the morning.
“But the fight continues and I’m willing and prepared to fight for as long as it takes,” she said on Thursday.
“This is such an important case because it’s not just about me. It’s about free speech. It’s about racism. It’s about the important role journalists play in truth telling, and crucially, it’s also about a fair, independent and robust ABC.
“And I love the ABC. I will always advocate and fight for an ABC that can operate and inform and entertain the masses without fear or favour.”
The ABC declined to comment while the matter was before the Fair Work Commission.
Lattouf has claimed she was unlawfully terminated by the ABC on the grounds of “political opinion or a reason that included political opinion”, later expanding the claim to include race, due to her Lebanese heritage.
The ABC has rejected the claims, arguing Lattouf was directed not to post anything on her social media accounts that could be considered controversial while she was in her five-day role hosting Sydney Mornings on ABC radio in late December.
The public broadcaster confirmed that it terminated Lattouf’s contract after she reposted a Human Rights Watch video on her personal Instagram page that said: “The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza.”
The ABC has strongly denied Lattouf’s dismissal was the result of outside pressure on the broadcaster, after the Age reported that it had seen a chain of leaked WhatsApp messages showing a campaign from pro-Israel lobbyists to have Lattouf sacked days before her dismissal.
After union staff threatened potential industrial action if he didn’t respond by Thursday, ABC managing director David Anderson returned from leave and emailed staff on Wednesday evening, rejecting claims the ABC bowed to outside pressure to sack Lattouf. He stated independence was of “paramount importance”.
“The ABC rejects any claim that it has been influenced by any external pressure, whether it be an advocacy or lobby group, a political party, or commercial entity,” Anderson’s statement said.
Staff, he added, “routinely perform their roles for the Australian public without fear or favour, adhering to our responsibilities of impartiality and accuracy – often in the face of significant unwarranted criticism”.
The ABC took “legitimate” criticism, feedback and complaints seriously, but would “continue to support [staff] and their work, internally and externally”, Anderson said.
On Thursday Human Rights Watch (HRW) – the organisation whose post led to Lattouf being let go by the ABC – wrote to ABC chair, Ita Buttrose, stating it was “troubling” that HRW material had been deemed controversial.
“This could have a chilling effect on the ability of Australian journalists to share human rights content from reputable organisations,” HRW’s Asia director, Elaine Pearson, said in the letter.
“Already we have learned that some ABC journalists, fearful of losing their jobs, are deleting posts sharing Human Rights Watch content from their social media profiles.”
Pearson said journalists should be encouraged not penalised for amplifying human rights reporting.
“Around the world, we see journalists facing pressure from authoritarian governments to chill the amplification of human rights issues. The Australian national broadcaster should set a positive example not a negative one,” she said.
Pearson called on the ABC to clarify what staff are permitted to repost.
A GoFundMe has been organised for Lattouf to cover her legal fees for the case, which Lattouf has promoted on her Instagram page. As of Thursday more than $65,000 had been raised.
