Key takeaways from day five
And that’s a wrap for the day.
It was a huge day of evidence, as the ABC content chief, Chris Oliver-Taylor, spent six hours on the stand answering questions from Lattouf’s barrister Oshie Fagir.
Here’s what we learned today:
Oliver-Taylor faced fierce questioning about his understanding of the ABC’s editorial, social media and other policies, and how they were followed in the case of Lattouf’s removal.
He was also quizzed about an apparent inconsistency in his evidence, regarding Lattouf’s race or national background, which is central to her allegations of unfair termination. Oliver-Taylor told the court he “didn’t know her race or national extraction”. He was then directed to an email he forwarded on to the managing director, David Anderson, on 18 December 2023, after complaints about her first came in to the ABC. The email gives background on Lattouf, including: “Her background is Lebanese Christian. She grew up in western Sydney, the child of Lebanese immigrants.”
The court heard that the acting editorial director, Simon Melkman, warned ABC bosses to “tread carefully” over any disciplinary action taken against Lattouf for her social media posts on the Israel-Gaza war. There was a “high chance”, he said, that cutting short her time on air “would make it a very big and very public issue”.
Oliver-Taylor said he was put between a “rock and a hard place” when it came to Lattouf’s position as a casual presenter on ABC Radio Sydney. He detailed “pressure from above” from colleagues, including the then chair, Ita Buttrose, over Lattouf’s appointment. He said: “The chair [Buttrose] was directly writing to me, the chair’s office and the chair were directly forwarding me more and more and more concerns and naming me as a respondent in the claims … There was pressure from above, I accept that.”
Fagir said there was “total confusion” about what instruction was given to Lattouf about her posting on social media and how it was conveyed to her. Oliver-Taylor said he did not draw a distinction between Lattouf being directed and asked to do something. Fagir also pushed Oliver-Taylor about whether Lattouf was directed not to post about the war in Gaza, or not to post about the war at all. He said there was “total confusion as to what, if any, message had been conveyed to Ms Lattouf in relation to her social media?” Oliver-Taylor denied that.
The hearing of evidence was meant to conclude today, but the trial is running well behind schedule and two days have been set aside next week – Tuesday and Wednesday – to hear evidence from the remaining five witnesses: Steve Ahern; the ABC Radio Sydney’s content director, Elizabeth Green; the acting editorial director, Simon Melkman; the head of audio, Ben Latimer; and former chair Ita Buttrose.
Updated
Court adjourns for the day
After a gruelling day, Chris Oliver-Taylor’s cross-examination has finally come to an end and he has been excused.
The case will resume next Tuesday.
Over Tuesday and Wednesday we will hear evidence from the remaining five witnesses, all from the ABC: Steve Ahern, Simon Melkman, Ben Latimer, Elizabeth Green and Ita Buttrose.
