- New case against ABC filed last week
- The alleged broadcaster violated its own EEA
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Fired ABC presenter Antoinette Lattouf has launched new legal proceedings against the national broadcaster over allegations it breached her own employment agreement by firing her.
The new legal action adds to Ms. Latouf’s illegal dismissal lawsuit, where she claims she was fired from her position for sharing a Human Rights Watch post on social media and for racial discrimination.
Lattouf’s new case against ABC was filed in the Federal Court last week.
She alleged that the station repeatedly breached its own Enterprise Agreement for employees by terminating her “without proper basis and without due process.”
Ms. Lattouf’s statement of claim alleges that ABC violated the agreement by terminating her employment for misconduct when she had not engaged in such behavior, failed to inform her of the alleged misconduct, and failed to inform her of the process to determine whether the alleged misconduct was “substantiated.” ‘.
Antoinette Lattouf has filed new proceedings against ABC before the Federal Court
He also claims that the station did not give him the opportunity to respond or explain his actions.
Josh Bornstein, senior solicitor at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, said the alleged repeated breaches of the agreement constituted a breach of the Fair Work Act.
“Antoinette Lattouf is the first Australian journalist fired for reporting a fact, the same fact that ABC reported on,” she said in a statement.
‘ABC’s conduct was a textbook example of what can go wrong when an organization applies brand management techniques rather than being guided by principles, proper processes and legal obligations.
Bornstein alleged that ABC “flagrantly” ignored its legal obligations when it “panicked” and fired Lattouf.
“Management made no attempt to comply with its own disciplinary regime,” he said.
It seeks reinstatement, compensation, monetary sanctions against the ABC and orders for management to “receive training to ensure they meet their obligations to the EA.”
Lattouf (second from left) stated that she was fired because she expressed “a political opinion and also because of her race.”
Lattouf’s new action adds to his illegal dismissal lawsuit against ABC (pictured) over claims he expressed a political opinion by sharing an Instagram post.
ABC has been contacted for comment.
Ms Lattouf, an award-winning journalist, made headlines after she was fired from her role as a fill-in presenter for Sydney radio show Mornings and ABC Sydney in December.
She claimed she was dumped for sharing a Human Rights Watch post on Instagram that detailed allegations that the Israeli government is using hunger as a weapon of war in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Lattouf has claimed that he was ordered to leave because he was expressing “a political opinion and also because of his race.”
But ABC has denied this, saying the decision was made “not to require her” during the final two days of her five-day contract.
He claimed that she “failed or refused to comply” with instructions not to post on social media about controversial topics during her time presenting.
Part of Ms. Lattouf’s new claim includes allegations that ABC had terminated her employment for misconduct when she had not engaged in such conduct, and for failing to detail what constituted the alleged misconduct. Photo: Instagram