Report: Justin Milne told Michelle Guthrie to fire Emma Alberici
Calls for ABC Chairman to stand down after interference alleged at the highest levels of ABC.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
Explosive emails from ABC chairman Justin Milne told former managing director Michelle Guthrie in which he instructed Emma Alberici should be sacked, have been published by Fairfax Media.
The decree followed a complaint from then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull over her political coverage.
In the email sent on May 8 Mr Milne reportedly said “They [the government] hate her.
“We are tarred with her brush. I think it’s simple. Get rid of her. We need to save the ABC – not Emma. There is no guarantee they [the Coalition] will lose the next election.”
Turnbull had sent a list of 11 grievances to the ABC’s news director Gaven Morris, who forwarded the complaint to Ms Guthrie, who then emailed Mr Milne directly.
Mr Milne, who is a former business partner of Mr Turnbull’s, asked Ms Guthrie to resign and sign a deed of release on September 13. She refused, was fired and is now considering taking legal action against the public broadcaster.
Emma Alberici this morning told Jon Faine she had not heard that the chairman wanted her sacked until she read it today.
“But it does strike [me] as odd and very disturbing, if the other reports are true, that the Minister was also somehow expressing a view about my continued employment,” she said.
“I just think it really undermines the independence of the ABC and that’s certainly why I work there.”
Justin Milne spoke to ABC Radio Melbourne’s Raf Epstein and said he would not offer a “running commentary on day-to-day issues”.
“The job of the ABC board is to independently govern the corporation, protect its best interests, ensure that it is well-funded, well-managed, and that our content is of the highest standards,” he said.
“That is precisely what the board has done and will continue to do. I do not propose to provide a running commentary on the day-to-day issues which arise as we carry out our duties.”
The Greens have called upon Justin Milne to step down as ABC Chairman while the MEAA says he should consider his future.
“Reports this morning of the ABC chairman seeking to interfere in editorial and staffing decisions at the ABC are deeply disturbing,” said the union.
“They would indicate Mr Milne has no understanding of editorial independence, proper complaints handling processes, or the appropriate distance a board chair needs to keep from staffing matters.
“If true, Mr Milne should resign immediately.”
Shadow Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland, said, “The independence and integrity of the ABC is paramount. It must remain free from political interference and withstand criticism even if, and particularly if, that criticism comes from the Prime Minister of the day.”
ABC presenters are also raising questions.
Justin Milne’s exposed rationale behind his stance on a govt complaint goes to the heart of the ABCs independence. And he’s the chairman!
— Barrie Cassidy (@barriecassidy) September 25, 2018
.@BreakfastNews asked ABC Chairman Justin Milne to come on the show this morning but he declined. @abcnews
— Michael Rowland (@mjrowland68) September 25, 2018
BREAKING: ABC staff to hold demonstration in foyer of Ultimo building today at 1pm over chairman Justin Milne.
— Stephen Brook (@ViscountBrooky) September 26, 2018
9 Responses
John Howard had The Glass House axed. Every time he sees Will Anderson on the ABC he takes it very, very personally
Turnbull filed an official complaint with the News Director Morris, who instead of making a decision Morris passed it on to the CEO and Editor In Chief, Guthrie. Who instead of making a decision asked Milne for his opinion, which he supplied. And Guthrie then did nothing. And Alberici and the Union are trying to claim that this proves political interference! What it does demonstrate is that both Guthrie and Alberici had been promoted to well beyond their competency. That the Editor In Chief position Scott created is just a cynical attempt to avoid any editorial control or accountability. And there is not a single person in the ABC who is capable off making an intelligent decision.
Sounds like no real accountability at all from the top to the bottom of the organisation to me, and possibly people without the authority trying to exercise accountability. No real regulation or consequences for failures of journalistic guidelines, failure of editorial guidelines, poor hiring policies, poor decision making, chasing fantasies that are outside their charter, people in senior positions unable to execute their plans, lack of clear responsibilities and a workforce that seems to think that they own the organisation has led to a toxic culture with a paranoid siege mentality of any outside opinions or input.
Sounds like a typical dysfunctional public service bureaucracy to me, which it is, and we should just admit it. I’m amazed that anyone with any originality or sanity would want to work there, and I note that some of their best talent now works through intermediate…
The wrong person was fired, should have been the Chairman. And I no longer have any sympathy for Turnbull because if his interference.
“Mr Milne, who is a former business partner of Mr Turnbull”. Two down, one to go.
Oh this is so funny. The so-called “journalists” at the ABC first celebrate the sacking of one enemy and now conspire to get rid of another. As Matt Peacock said “Be careful with what you wish for”!!
C.J. It makes you wonder who is actually running the ABC.
Nah, twenty-five years ago it was the CPSU who ran the ABC, but they are now a spent force and have to satisfy their days with Centrelink. Now it’s the so-called “journalists” who call the shots and whinge and cry and stamp their little feet when they don’t get their own way. One day the ABC will have some effective management and there will be a huge shock!!
Even funnier. The journalists at the ABC first celebrate the sacking of one enemy and only to find out she was the one stopping the sacking of journalists under pressure at the ABC