On Monday, it was announced that the contract of the ABC’s first female managing director, Ms Michelle Guthrie, had been terminated halfway through her five-year term.
On Thursday, following staff protest meetings, the ABC’s chairman, Mr Justin Milne was forced to resign amid allegations that he had compromised the independence of the public broadcaster. In a series of emails leaked to the press, Mr Milne told Ms Guthrie to fire senior journalists who had displayed alleged bias against the government.
Labor Shadow Minister for Communications, Ms Michelle Rowland MP, said that the ABC “must remain free from political interference and withstand criticism even if, and particularly if, that criticism comes from the prime minister of the day”.
Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, called Mr Milne’s position, “untenable”.
Following Mr Milne’s resignation, the ABC board met in order to recommend a new chairperson. On Friday, the Prime Minister announced that he would be recommending Dr Kirstin Ferguson?—?an ABC board member since 2015 and an experienced director?—?to be the broadcaster’s acting chair.
“I think it is important for the ABC to restore normal transmission as quickly as possible”, he said.
Minister for Communications and the Arts, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, announced that the Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts, Mr Mike Mrdak AO, would “undertake an inquiry to establish the facts in relation to… media reports surrounding the ABC.”
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