ABC admits it should ‘never’ have argued Antoinette Lattouf had to prove existence of Lebanese race

<p>Broadcaster’s chief people officer Deena Amorelli tells Senate estimates ABC will ‘apologise’ for argument</p><ul><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>The ABC’s earlier legal argument that Antoinette Lattouf had to prove the existence of a Lebanese race should “never have been made”, the broadcaster has conceded at a parliamentary committee which heard the case cost $1.1m in external lawyers.</p><p>The ABC’s defence of Lattouf’s unlawful termination case originally argued she must prove the existence of a Lebanese, Arab or Middle Eastern race, a tactic which <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/feb/06/abc-staff-disgusted-by-broadcasters-handling-of-antoinette-lattouf-unlawful-termination-claim-ntwnfb">angered ABC staff</a> and Australian Middle Eastern and multicultural groups.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/feb/25/antoinette-lattouf-unlawful-termination-trial-abc-lebanese-race-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>