Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal case against the ABC took an emotional turn on day two, as the journalist broke down in court while recalling the fallout from her abrupt removal from the airwaves.
The Federal Court heard distressing testimony detailing the toll her sacking has taken on her career, mental health, and personal life.
Lattouf, who was dismissed in December 2023 after sharing a Human Rights Watch post about alleged Israeli starvation tactics in Gaza, testified on Tuesday that the experience left her paranoid and struggling with alcohol dependency.
“I was a social drinker, but I became a heavier drinker,” she told the court, admitting that she sometimes drank until she passed out. She also described a growing fear of being followed, recounting one occasion where she entered a café to evade someone she believed was tailing her.
Psychiatrist Dr Nigel Strauss testified that Lattouf had been diagnosed with a depressive disorder and high levels of anxiety following her dismissal.
The court also viewed a video in which Lattouf expressed the immense pressure she felt being held up as a symbol of press freedom.
“Every time I’m put up as the ‘poster girl’ for justice and a free and fair press, I feel a suffocating heaviness and sadness,” she said.
Adding to the distress, Lattouf revealed she had received an abusive email on her private account, leading her to contact the police.
Authorities have since identified a suspect, and an arrest is reportedly imminent.
“I don’t know why I reported this one and not some of the others,” she admitted, noting that on that particular day, she had decided she “shouldn’t have to put up with this.”
Despite ABC executives maintaining that Lattouf was not unfairly dismissed—arguing that she was paid for her full five-day contract—the journalist insists her removal was the result of external pressure, including complaints from pro-Israel lobbyists.
Internal ABC correspondence aired in court has suggested that senior management, including former ABC chair Ita Buttrose, reacted hastily to these complaints.
Lattouf’s case raises significant questions about editorial independence, free speech, and diversity in Australian media. As the hearing continues, she remains steadfast in her pursuit of justice, arguing that her removal has not only damaged her career but also set a dangerous precedent for journalists speaking out on human rights issues.
