Journo’s dispute with ABC goes to trial

Presenter Antoinette Lattouf has said she “won’t stop” as her unfair dismissal case against the national broadcaster heads to trial.

Earlier this month, the Fair Work Commission determined that the journalist was fired by ABC after she was interrupted after sharing a social media post about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ms Lattouf was sent home three days after spending five days on ABC radio’s Sydney Mornings in December last year.

She claims she was illegally fired after sharing a Human Rights Watch post on social media with a caption that read: “HRW reports that starvation is a tool of war.”

The journalist and her former employer met in Federal Court on Tuesday for a mediation session to determine whether the wrongful termination lawsuit could be resolved before going to trial.

However, Ms Lattouf took to social media less than two hours later to reveal the attempt had failed.

“The mediation failed today, which is incredibly disheartening,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Even as hard as this has been for me and how unfair it is, let me be clear: I will not stop.”

In this passionate position, Ms. Lattouf pledged to continue to defend press freedom and human rights.

“I will not stop fighting for a courageous and independent ABC, a public channel that does not give in to pressure groups,” promised the journalist.

In a letter sent to ABC management and published in the Fair Work Commission’s judgment, Ms Lattouf said she was told her post breached the company’s social media policies.

She also claimed that she was told “that Jewish lobbyists were upset that I was on the air.”

Ms. Lattouf believes she was fired for expressing a political opinion and because of her race.

She is suing the ABC for having dismissed her “without valid reason and without due process”, in violation of her company agreement with her employees.

On Tuesday, the journalist said she was “encouraged and grateful for so much public support” as well as that of her peers and the media union.

She started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay her legal fees ahead of trial.

The ABC declined to comment on the matter.

The Federal Court recorded the mediation as finalized but not resolved.