Embattled ABC Exec Departs Amid Leadership Overhaul
In a major shakeup at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver-Taylor is departing the public broadcaster as his role is substantially downgraded by new ABC chair Kim Williams. The move comes in the wake of the controversial sacking of journalist Antoinette Lattouf by Oliver-Taylor last year.
Oliver-Taylor’s tenure was marred by the fallout from his decision to remove Lattouf from the air just three days into a five-day casual contract in December 2023. The dismissal came after Lattouf posted on social media about the Israel-Gaza war, which the ABC claimed breached its editorial standards.
“If the ABC is not commissioning content that is distinctive and definitionally different and ambitious for Australian audiences and for Australia, it’s not doing its job properly.”
– Kim Williams, ABC Chair
The ABC has been attempting to settle the Lattouf case out of court after the Fair Work Commission found she was unlawfully terminated, opening the door for the journalist to pursue legal action. The broadcaster had argued Lattouf was not technically fired because she was paid for the full five days.
New Chair Reverses Course
Oliver-Taylor’s exit, expected to be announced this week, closely follows the resignation of his ally and former ABC Managing Director David Anderson. Anderson, who had appointed Oliver-Taylor less than two years ago, resigned just one year into his second five-year term.
In a reversal of Anderson’s centralization efforts, new chair Williams relocated the radio division out of Oliver-Taylor’s consolidated content group and back into a standalone unit under Ben Latimer. The move left Oliver-Taylor’s role significantly diminished in scope.
Lattouf Saga Proves Costly
The protracted battle with Lattouf has taken a toll on the ABC, damaging its reputation and racking up substantial legal costs. ABC journalists called for Oliver-Taylor to step down last year over his handling of the matter.
Documents before the Fair Work Commission revealed it was Oliver-Taylor who initiated the investigation into Lattouf’s social media activity after the ABC received complaints alleging bias. Lattouf was dismissed for sharing a Human Rights Watch post accusing Israel of “using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza” – a story the ABC itself had covered.
New Leadership, New Era?
With a new Managing Director in Hugh Marks starting in March, and Williams already putting his stamp on the executive ranks, the ABC appears poised for a new chapter. But the broadcaster faces stiff challenges in the years ahead:
- Evolving for the digital age while upholding its public service mission
- Fending off political pressure and maintaining independence
- Winning back public trust after high-profile scandals and controversies
- Differentiating its content in an increasingly crowded media landscape
As Williams made clear in his blunt assessment last year, the ABC risks becoming less relevant if it fails to deliver “distinctive and definitionally different” content for Australian audiences. With new leadership in place and a mandate for change, all eyes will be on the public broadcaster to rise to the challenge.
