David Anderson faces second vote of no confidence from ABC staff

Editorial staff at the ABC have passed a second vote of no confidence against managing director David Anderson, and other senior managers. The votes come in light of the broadcaster’s handling of complaints.

Staff have also called for the ABC’s head of content, Chris Oliver-Taylor, to step down due to his decision to dismiss broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf.

The meeting, made up of union members, was held in response to the Fair Work Commission hearings regarding Lattouf’s unfair dismissal claim, after she was sacked from her temporary job as host of ABC Sydney’s morning radio show in December.

In January, the original no confidence vote was passed 128 votes to three at a national online meeting attended by over 200 Media, Entertainment, and Arts Alliance (MEAA) members.

MEAA media director Cassie Derrick said that the handling of Lattouf’s termination "has done enormous damage to the integrity and reputation of the ABC."

“Evidence provided in the Fair Work Commission hearing about the involvement of David Anderson and Chris Oliver-Taylor in her dismissal has further undermined the confidence of staff in the managing director and his senior managers to be able to protect the independence of the ABC.

“The Lattouf case continues a pattern of ABC journalists, particularly those from culturally diverse backgrounds, lacking support from management when they face criticism from lobby groups, business organisations and politicians."

See Also: ABC board to hold emergency meeting after staff pass vote of no confidence in David Anderson

That vote was held in response to leaked messages seen and published by the Sydney Morning Herald from a WhatsApp group called Lawyers for Israel, that detailed a letter-writing campaign addressed to Anderson and ABC chair at the time, Ita Buttrose. 

The messages detailed members’ contact with the ABC – and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland – with requests that Lattouf be taken off the air; some messages included threats of legal action. 

At the time, a statement from the ABC Alumni, an association of high-profile former ABC staff, shared concerns about the ABC’s independence in light of the perception that the ABC had “buckled” to outside pressure.