Govt to investigate Justin Milne, ABC Board.
Mitch Fifield orders investigation into events surrounding ABC Chairman, as staff call on him to step aside.
- Published by David Knox
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The head of the Department of Communications and the Arts will conduct an investigation into claims of interference at the ABC.
Mike Mrdak, Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts will conduct an inquiry into the reports of surrounding the ABC, its board and chairman Justin Milne.
“Having met with the Prime Minister this afternoon, I have asked the Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts to undertake an inquiry to establish the facts in relation to today’s media reports surrounding the ABC,” said Communications Minister Mitch Fifield.
“The Secretary will report his findings to me as soon as possible.
“It is important for the community to have confidence in the independence of the ABC.”
The move follows an extraordinary day for ABC in which staff gatherings in Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane voted for the Chairman to step aside.
Milne is under fire in numerous media articles and editorials after email leaks showed he called for Emma Alberici to be sacked and to “shoot” Andrew Probyn because the Prime Minister hated him. Also calling for him to go are voices within Labor, the Greens, MEAA and CPSU.
Guthrie is understood to have rejected his calls, citing editorial independence. She claims Milne told her she was putting ABC digital project Jetstream at risk because ABC was asking the govt for half a billion dollars. According to Michelle Guthrie, Milne told her “….we won’t get it unless I do what I’m told. I told him you can never make the government happy even if you wanted to.”
Friends of ABC have said the decision to terminate Michelle Guthrie is regrettable and creates more uncertainty for the broadcaster.
“Ms Guthrie was constantly challenged by staff, media and political critics throughout her time in the top job. She attempted major reform by cutting middle management and returning those resources to regional services. But of course her task of managing fewer resources while strengthening digital output was almost impossible. She made some unpopular decisions and was not prepared for the constant public spotlight on her role,” it said in a statement.
“It is unfortunate that one of the reasons given for her termination was the perceived failure to work with the Coalition Government.
“ABC Friends are more interested in any ABC Managing Director being able to work in the best interests of all Australians who essentially must insist their representatives in Canberra value the ABC and ensure it is properly funded and allowed to be free of political interference.”
Source: Daily Telegraph
5 Responses
The person who should have been sacked was the one who okayed second series of The Code, Cleverman and Glitch
I love it when the left turns on itself. So a few days ago the left were jumping for joy that Guthrie their “first women” appointed to the position was sacked- so much for sisterhood right there.. now they realise she was actually on their side saving the skin of Alberici.. so now its time to go after Milne… who is next in the protest movement.. This is so typical of whingers all they want to do is protest and not work.
The Government about to “whitewash” its own interference. They must think we are a bunch of idiots.
It’s a laughing matter this Govt. Who do they think they are kidding?
In a couple of days Guthrie has gone from being a Murdoch stooge to the one saving the ABC….
Govt to investigate? Why would they bother, we already know what the outcome will be. This investigation should be conducted by an independent body not the Govt. What a joke.