*UPDATE* Lattouf has since filed a complaint to the Fair Work Commission for unlawful termination on the grounds of “political opinion or a reason that included political opinion”.
Former ABC fill-in radio host, Antoinette Lattouf, is considering legal action after being dismissed by the public broadcaster for expressing critical views on Israel through her social media.
“I am very disappointed by the ABC’s decision today,” Lattouf wrote in a statement on social media on Wednesday.
“I believe I was terminated unlawfully. This is not a win for journalism or critical, fair thinking. I’m currently considering my legal options.”
Lattouf, who recently hosted the morning show on ABC Sydney in place of Sarah Macdonald, was terminated on Wednesday.
Reports suggest that controversial ABC chair Ita Buttrose was angered by her appointment, considering her previous social media posts on the Middle East.
Complaints were reportedly filed with the ABC board and managing director David Anderson, leading to Lattouf’s dismissal.
The outspoken presenter, of Lebanese heritage, often shares candid views on social media platforms.
She recently made headlines when she raised concerns that videos of pro-Palestine protesters chanting “gas the Jews” at the Sydney Opera House in October were unverified.
“Despite the enormous amount of attention and considerable response to the reports, third parties have been unable to verify the ‘gas the Jews’ claim, and further footage corroborating the chants has failed to emerge,” she wrote in an article for Crikey last week.
The Media Diversity Network founder is among hundreds of journalists who recently signed an open letter calling for more ethical reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Last month, BACKCOVERNEWS.COM exclusively revealed there are growing concerns about press freedom in Australia after some journalists across major newsrooms said they experienced attempts at censorship while covering Israel and Palestine.
The Islamophobia Register Australia recently commissioned a study led by Dr. Susan Carland to examine media reporting on Israel-Palestine and whether it is balanced.
The comprehensive analysis revealed a notable reporting imbalance in five out of the six scrutinised accounts, including ABC News, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, 9News, and news.com.au.
Sharara Attai, Executive Director of Islamophobia Register said it was concerning that almost every media outlet demonstrated a lack of balance in their reporting.
“Anti-Palestinian racism is a specific and documented form of Islamophobia. With such a massive rise in reported incidents of Islamophobia since October 7th, we take issue with the imbalance of humanising and dehumanising descriptors between the accounts of Israelis and Palestinians.”
Crikey recently revealed that editors across Australian media conglomerate Nine mastheads threatened to ban all journalists from covering any content related to war, if they dare sign the open letter which seeks more balanced reporting on Gaza.
Australia has a long-standing tradition of press freedom, a cornerstone of democratic societies. However, several incidents have raised questions about the extent to which journalists are able to freely report on the complex and sensitive issues surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
