Antoinette Lattouf v ABC LIVE updates: Broadcaster withdraws race argument; Steve Ahern, Ita Buttrose set to appear as unlawful termination case continues
The ABC’s barrister, Ian Neil SC, has now made another statement, backflipping on the public broadcaster’s “race” defence, and subsequently proposes it will file an amended opening submission.
It’s a sensational development to start the day. For those not up to speed, the ABC has argued one of Lattouf’s claims, that racial discrimination contributed to her dismissal, must fail because she has not proven to a legal standard that being Lebanese, Middle Eastern, or Arab, are races.
“We are now instructed as follows the ABC does not put in issue, that is, it does not dispute […] that the Lebanese, Middle Eastern or Arab races exist, or that Ms Lattouf is one or more of those races,” Neil says.
Antoinette Lattouf arrives at the Federal Court this morning. Credit: Kate Geraghty
It comes after mounting pressure from staff and the public, with 250 unionised ABC staffers calling for the defence to be withdrawn on Friday.
The position also attracted criticism from several groups, including the Arab Council of Australia and the Australian Lebanese Association, whose president, Raymond Najar, called the position “surreal and blatantly racist”.
The ABC has also apologised for uploading a number of unredacted complaints sent to Ita Buttrose in affidavits published by the Federal Court last week. The complaints and identity of complainants were subject to a suppression order.
