ABC chairman Justin Milne has announced his resignation, following days of turmoil at the national broadcaster due to the shock dismissal of managing director Michelle Guthrie.
#BREAKING: Justin Milne has resigned as chairman of the ABC
— ABC Politics (@politicsabc) September 27, 2018
The news comes after the ABC board, minus Milne, convened for a crisis meeting this morning to discuss claims he had been influenced by government figures to influence the organisation’s editorial decisions – a massive no-no and a violation of the ABC’s charter.
The board was also expected to ask Milne to step aside for the duration of an investigation into those claims ordered this morning by the communications minister, Mitch Fifield.
Milne came under fire due to this week’s sensational sacking of Guthrie, just halfway through her five-year-long contract.
Other damning allegations followed, including claims he pressured Guthrie to fire ABC economics correspondent Emma Alberici after pressure from former Prime Minister (and Milne’s personal friend) Malcolm Turnbull.
Overnight, Turnbull admitted he had been in contact with the ABC to discuss his concerns over the broadcaster’s coverage, but denied he ever called for ABC staff to be fired.
ABC staff also claimed that Milne tried to pressure Guthrie into reversing Triple J‘s decision to move the Hottest 100 song countdown from Australia Day, because Turnbull would go “ballistic”.
In an interview with ABC’s Leigh Sales, Milne said he stepped down as a “release valve” for the organisation, and again denied any wrongdoing amid the “firestorm” of allegations.
“There was absolutely no interference in the independence of the ABC by the Government,” Milne said.
An interim chairman is expected to be appointed by the board, before Prime Minister Scott Morrison selects Milne’s successor.
ABC Board and Chairman have made the right call. Time for the ABC to resume normal transmission, both independently and without bias. That is what Australia’s taxpayers pay for and deserve.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 27, 2018
Fun times at Aunty.
