ABC Revises Legal Defense in Antoinette Lattouf Unlawful Termination Case

The broadcaster now acknowledges the existence of Lebanese, Middle Eastern, and Arab races after public criticism of its initial legal argument.

Antoinette Lattouf, a journalist of Lebanese, Middle Eastern, and Arab descent, filed an unlawful termination lawsuit against the ABC after being removed from an on-air role in December 2023.
The ABC initially argued that Lattouf's racial discrimination claim must fail as she had not proven the existence of Lebanese, Middle Eastern, or Arab races, sparking backlash from cultural groups and staff.
On Tuesday, the ABC formally withdrew this argument, stating it does not dispute the existence of these races or Lattouf's heritage, but denies her race or political opinions influenced her dismissal.
The ABC apologized for the distress caused by its legal strategy and reaffirmed its commitment to workplace diversity and inclusion.
The court proceedings also revealed an error where unredacted complaints, subject to a suppression order, were mistakenly published, prompting an apology from the ABC's legal team.