The details, which were suppressed by the Federal Court, were revealed yesterday in an affidavit tendered during an unlawful dismissal hearing in a case brought by freelance journalist Antoinette Lattouf.
The public broadcaster claims she was taken off air for breaching a direction that she refrain from posting anything on the subject while employed at the ABC.
The affidavit of content chief Chris Oliver-Taylor attached a number of complaints about Lattouf’s views based on previous social media posts and public comments.
They labelled her as antisemitic and said hiring her would turn the broadcaster into a Hamas mouthpiece.
Lattouf said in her court filings that she opposed the Israeli military campaign in Gaza and supported the human rights of Palestinians.
Today, Justice Darryl Rangiah expressed his displeasure that the names and contact details of some of the complainants were publicly viewable in the affidavit despite court orders suppressing those details.
“I am deeply unhappy about the error made by the ABC’s legal representatives,” the judge said.
ABC barrister Ian Neil SC apologised personally and for the organisation, saying the mistake was a result of human error.
Lawyers swiftly contacted the court once they realised the confidential information had been made publicly available on the Federal Court’s website, he said.
“As leading counsel responsible for the presentation of the respondent’s case, I stand before you this morning to tender my personal apology for what has happened,” Neil told the judge.
Oliver-Taylor’s affidavit was quickly removed from the court’s public file and a redacted version will be uploaded today.
The hearing continues with former ABC head of capital city networks Steve Ahern taking the stand.
Former chair Ita Buttrose is expected to give evidence afterwards.
Lattouf alleges that she was fired for her political opinion and race after the ABC bowed to pressure from pro-Israeli lobbyists who co-ordinated a campaign of complaints against her.
She is seeking compensation and penalties against the ABC.