Antoinette Lattouf hearing day four: ABC managing director David Anderson to resume giving evidence – live | Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Anderson told court about regrets and flagged ‘step missing’ in Lattouf process

Yesterday we heard from Anderson that he has some regrets over the way the Lattouf matter was handled.

Under cross-examination by Lattouf’s barrister, Oshie Fagir, he said there was a “step missing” and Lattouf should have been given a chance to explain herself.

I think there’s a step in the middle, of a discussion with Ms Lattouf, to ensure that they’ve sought the right advice from employee relations and people and culture as part of that decision.

Anderson, who hired Oliver-Taylor, said the executive was a competent manager but if he had his time over he may have sought additional advice from human resources.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing,” Anderson said, adding that it would have been useful to talk to Lattouf to find out what the motivation behind her social media post was.

It was an interesting admission and we are keen to hear later today when Oliver-Taylor enters the witness box if he has any regrets.

Anderson also revealed he agreed with the statement “Australia is a racist country” and had no problem with ABC political editor Laura Tingle making the statement at a writers’ festival.

Fagir challenged Anderson on why Lattouf was taken off air when Tingle and other ABC personalities had been allowed to make potentially contentious or impartial statements.

Anderson said he looked at it on a case by case basis.

You can read our report from Wednesday here:

Hi, I’m Amanda Meade, media correspondent, and I’ll be watching day four of the Antoinette Lattouf v ABC unlawful termination claim today.

We will bring you all the evidence as it unfolds from 10.45am though to 4.30pm.

Witnesses today include two ABC chiefs: David Anderson, the managing director who is back to complete his cross-examination, and Chris Oliver-Taylor, the outgoing ABC content chief.