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Secret WhatsApp messages show co-ordinated campaign to oust Antoinette Lattouf from ABC (www.theage.com.au)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The messages also reveal a member of the group Lawyers for Israel calling Lattouf’s lawyer Josh Bornstein, who is Jewish, a “traiter”.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They didn't "harass workers", did they? I think the ABC should also be able to withstand a letter-writing campaign and that "terrorising" is a bit of a stretch there.

Spurious threats of legal action might be of interest to professional bodies, though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I'm inclined to agree. This is not front page news and arguably not even news.

Some Jewish people unhappy about an ABC reporter taking what appears to them to be an anti Israel position write a letter of complaint. The fact they are lawyers is neither here nor there.

If the situation was reversed and they were pro Palestinian complaining about what appears to be an anti Palestine point of view nobody would say boo.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The fact they are lawyers is neither here nor there.

Well, the lawyers involved think differently:

Nicky Stein

Needs to be done again today ... It is important ABC hears not just from individuals in the community but specifically lawyers so they feel there is an actual legal threat.

Nicky Stein

I have basically written to them and told them I expect a proper response, not a generic one, by COB today or I would look to engage a senior counsel. I know there is probably no actionable offence against ABC but I didn't say I would be taking one - just investigating one. I have said they they should be terminating her employment immediately.

Nicky Stein

Just got this back from Ita Buttrose in response to my email (which was a bit cheeky threatening legal action I know)

So I'd say that they're lawyers is relevant in that they thought it would help them apply pressure, and it seems to have. I don't think just anyone would be able to get a personal response from the ABC chairperson. What's more is that they knew their threats of legal action weren't well-founded.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Again? So what ? They are a lawyer and therefore can't write a letter of complaint? They are entitled to do so and it's not illegal to threaten potential legal action. If the court thinks it's bullshit they'll throw it out of it gets that far.

And again I make the point if it was pro Palestine lawyers complaining about a perceived anti Palestine commentary on the ABC nobody in the media would say boo.

It's a beat-up over nothing and it's not news. ABC management and their entire legal department are big boys and girls and they can handle tersely worded letters .

Now if the ABC caved to pressure and sacked the employee unfairly without due process because of these letters that would be different. But there's no evidence presented that this is happen. Until then the media can shut the fuck up.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I think you've missed the point here. Because they are lawyers and not everyone else are lawyers and not every lawyer would understand every bit of legislation inside out their complaints carry more weight than an ordinary citizen. I would argue a lawyer threatening legal action is somewhat similar to a soldier drawing a gun (not because of the danger but due to their training and experience in its use).

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago

Maybe if they were writing to an average Joe blow i might be sympathetic to your argument but they weren't. They were writing to a large organization with a well funded legal team. This is not David and Goliath.