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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/live/2018/sep/27/abc-chairman-justin-milne-board-turmoil-fifield-inquiry-live
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| 'I never provided instructions anyone should be sacked', says former ABC chair Justin Milne – live | 'I never provided instructions anyone should be sacked', says former ABC chair Justin Milne – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| We are going to leave the blog here today – Amanda Meade will have a wrap of the day, and I’ll be watching the 7.30 interview with Justin Milne, so rest assured, we’ll keep following the story. | |
| The board is yet to name its acting chair, but the legislation says it usually goes to the deputy chair. As we reported earlier, Peter Lewis is expected to be named in the acting role, but we will keep you up to date with any changes. | |
| Thank you for following along – and take care of you. | |
| ABC News has expanded a little on the 7.30 interview - you can find the whole story here | ABC News has expanded a little on the 7.30 interview - you can find the whole story here |
| When asked whether [Justin Milne] sent an email to [Michelle] Guthrie instructing her to ‘get rid’ of Alberici – the ABC’s chief economics correspondent – Mr Milne said it needed to be explained ‘in context’. | When asked whether [Justin Milne] sent an email to [Michelle] Guthrie instructing her to ‘get rid’ of Alberici – the ABC’s chief economics correspondent – Mr Milne said it needed to be explained ‘in context’. |
| ‘When there is an issue of editorial independence and accuracy it’s appropriate for the chair to be involved – it’s the chair’s job,’ he said. | ‘When there is an issue of editorial independence and accuracy it’s appropriate for the chair to be involved – it’s the chair’s job,’ he said. |
| ‘[But] I have never sent an email to Michelle Guthrie or anybody else, which says you must sack Emma Alberici or Andrew Probyn or anybody else.’ | ‘[But] I have never sent an email to Michelle Guthrie or anybody else, which says you must sack Emma Alberici or Andrew Probyn or anybody else.’ |
| He described what was reported as ‘a piece of an email’ but later also said: ‘You can’t go around irritating the person who’s going to give you funding again and again if it’s over matters about accuracy and impartiality.’ | He described what was reported as ‘a piece of an email’ but later also said: ‘You can’t go around irritating the person who’s going to give you funding again and again if it’s over matters about accuracy and impartiality.’ |
| ABC News has played a little more of the 7.30 interview with Justin Milne tonight, where he says he has never given instructions, through email, that anyone should be sacked. | ABC News has played a little more of the 7.30 interview with Justin Milne tonight, where he says he has never given instructions, through email, that anyone should be sacked. |
| “I have never sent an email to Michelle Guthrie or anybody else, which says you must sack Emma Alberici or Andrew Probyn or anybody else.” | “I have never sent an email to Michelle Guthrie or anybody else, which says you must sack Emma Alberici or Andrew Probyn or anybody else.” |
| But he does say that he had a confidential conversations with Guthrie – as you would expect. | But he does say that he had a confidential conversations with Guthrie – as you would expect. |
| Veteran journalist and former Media Watch host Jonathan Holmes is also making the point, on ABC News, that the ABC board only acted when public sentiment appeared to turn, once the Fairfax article was first published on Wednesday. | Veteran journalist and former Media Watch host Jonathan Holmes is also making the point, on ABC News, that the ABC board only acted when public sentiment appeared to turn, once the Fairfax article was first published on Wednesday. |
| He points out that the board was aware of Michelle Guthrie’s claims about being pressured to sack certain journalists at least a week before she herself was sacked –because she wrote and told them – but yet, the board did nothing. | He points out that the board was aware of Michelle Guthrie’s claims about being pressured to sack certain journalists at least a week before she herself was sacked –because she wrote and told them – but yet, the board did nothing. |
| It might be worth reminding you that Senate estimates is scheduled from 22 October. So while there is the Mitch Fifield-ordered departmental report due “hopefully” in “days” (we are yet to get clarification on whether it will be made public or not), and Labor and the Greens are trying to get a parliamentary inquiry up - and have have ‘in-principle support’ from Centre Alliance and Tim Storer, the acting ABC MD will also have to front the Senate estimates committee. | It might be worth reminding you that Senate estimates is scheduled from 22 October. So while there is the Mitch Fifield-ordered departmental report due “hopefully” in “days” (we are yet to get clarification on whether it will be made public or not), and Labor and the Greens are trying to get a parliamentary inquiry up - and have have ‘in-principle support’ from Centre Alliance and Tim Storer, the acting ABC MD will also have to front the Senate estimates committee. |
| And last but not least - the ABC Board has released its statement: | And last but not least - the ABC Board has released its statement: |
| ABC chairman Justin Milne will step down from his role effective immediately. | ABC chairman Justin Milne will step down from his role effective immediately. |
| After discussions with the board, Mr Milne came to the conclusion that this outcome would enable the corporation to move forward, free from the distraction of the last few days surrounding the managing director. | After discussions with the board, Mr Milne came to the conclusion that this outcome would enable the corporation to move forward, free from the distraction of the last few days surrounding the managing director. |
| In coming to this decision, he told the board he was motivated by the best interests of the ABC. | In coming to this decision, he told the board he was motivated by the best interests of the ABC. |
| The board acknowledges Mr Milne’s experienced leadership and his contribution throughout his term. | The board acknowledges Mr Milne’s experienced leadership and his contribution throughout his term. |
| The board thanks Mr Milne for navigating the ABC through challenging circumstances and is grateful for his willingness to put the ABC first in coming to his decision to resign. | The board thanks Mr Milne for navigating the ABC through challenging circumstances and is grateful for his willingness to put the ABC first in coming to his decision to resign. |
| The acting managing director of ABC, David Anderson has also responded to today’s events. This is the statement which has been put out to staff: | The acting managing director of ABC, David Anderson has also responded to today’s events. This is the statement which has been put out to staff: |
| As everyone is now aware, Justin Milne has resigned as ABC chairman after several very difficult days for the ABC. | As everyone is now aware, Justin Milne has resigned as ABC chairman after several very difficult days for the ABC. |
| Let me reassure you that the ABC’s independence is paramount and can never be compromised. | Let me reassure you that the ABC’s independence is paramount and can never be compromised. |
| As our director of news Gaven Morris wrote yesterday, the Australian public has asked to be reassured that the ABC’s independence is protected. It has been and it always will be. Our staff should feel confident they can do their job without interference and Australians can continue to trust their national broadcaster as they always have. | As our director of news Gaven Morris wrote yesterday, the Australian public has asked to be reassured that the ABC’s independence is protected. It has been and it always will be. Our staff should feel confident they can do their job without interference and Australians can continue to trust their national broadcaster as they always have. |
| As stated already, the ABC is quite clear that it is the duty of the board to ‘maintain the independence and integrity of the corporation’. The Act also requires the board to ensure that ABC reporting is ‘accurate and impartial’ and that policies and processes are in place to guarantee independence and impartiality. | As stated already, the ABC is quite clear that it is the duty of the board to ‘maintain the independence and integrity of the corporation’. The Act also requires the board to ensure that ABC reporting is ‘accurate and impartial’ and that policies and processes are in place to guarantee independence and impartiality. |
| The role of the managing director and the leadership team is to implement those policies and processes. | The role of the managing director and the leadership team is to implement those policies and processes. |
| I understand the upset and disquiet caused to many of our people through these events and want to offer you my support and that of the ABC leadership team in every way. | I understand the upset and disquiet caused to many of our people through these events and want to offer you my support and that of the ABC leadership team in every way. |
| I want to assure you that the leadership team is focused on getting on with the job we do best: delivering Australia’s best journalism and Australian content for our audiences. | I want to assure you that the leadership team is focused on getting on with the job we do best: delivering Australia’s best journalism and Australian content for our audiences. |
| Days like these are not easy, but you should all be proud of what you do. We are here to serve the Australian people and I want to thank you for your continued dedication and professionalism during this time. | Days like these are not easy, but you should all be proud of what you do. We are here to serve the Australian people and I want to thank you for your continued dedication and professionalism during this time. |
| Still waiting on the board to break from its meeting. We’ll be wrapping this up soon, but in case you missed it: | Still waiting on the board to break from its meeting. We’ll be wrapping this up soon, but in case you missed it: |
| More concerning for the nation is how the Liberal Party seeks to interfere with the ABC’s independence, cut its funding and eventually look to sell it off.This is the real issue. | More concerning for the nation is how the Liberal Party seeks to interfere with the ABC’s independence, cut its funding and eventually look to sell it off.This is the real issue. |
| There will obviously be more on this tonight, but for anyone who wants the visual of what Justin Milne has said so far: | There will obviously be more on this tonight, but for anyone who wants the visual of what Justin Milne has said so far: |
| “Nobody from the Government has ever rung me and told me what to do in relation to the ABC.” Justin Milne, who has just resigned as #ABC chairman, talks to #abc730’s @leighsales in an exclusive interview. More tonight on 7.30. #auspol pic.twitter.com/gu0zDVWkwz | “Nobody from the Government has ever rung me and told me what to do in relation to the ABC.” Justin Milne, who has just resigned as #ABC chairman, talks to #abc730’s @leighsales in an exclusive interview. More tonight on 7.30. #auspol pic.twitter.com/gu0zDVWkwz |
| But Sarah Hanson-Young said it was important to try to keep the ABC staff separate from the recent board crisis: | But Sarah Hanson-Young said it was important to try to keep the ABC staff separate from the recent board crisis: |
| I think the journalists at the ABC and the staff have been doing their best to keep the show on the road. They have been doing everything they can to do their jobs properly, without the backing of their board, without the backing of their chairperson. | I think the journalists at the ABC and the staff have been doing their best to keep the show on the road. They have been doing everything they can to do their jobs properly, without the backing of their board, without the backing of their chairperson. |
| We need to clean out the board, put a broom through it and ensure that the staff and journalists are not just able to get on with their jobs, but they are protected and supported in doing that. We need to make sure that whoever feels that chairperson role is somebody who is free from political interference and pressure. And that means somebody who is supported with a cross-party process to ensure that they are not just kicking for one side of parliament or one side of politics.” | We need to clean out the board, put a broom through it and ensure that the staff and journalists are not just able to get on with their jobs, but they are protected and supported in doing that. We need to make sure that whoever feels that chairperson role is somebody who is free from political interference and pressure. And that means somebody who is supported with a cross-party process to ensure that they are not just kicking for one side of parliament or one side of politics.” |
| Justin Milne has released his own statement: | Justin Milne has released his own statement: |
| Outgoing ABC Chairman Justin Milne: "I have never been directed by any member of parliament to seek the sacking of an ABC staff member, nor have I ever directed ABC management to sack a staff member." #auspol @politicsabc pic.twitter.com/o3JJVWw8Q3 | Outgoing ABC Chairman Justin Milne: "I have never been directed by any member of parliament to seek the sacking of an ABC staff member, nor have I ever directed ABC management to sack a staff member." #auspol @politicsabc pic.twitter.com/o3JJVWw8Q3 |
| Sarah Hanson-Young says the whole ABC Board has been compromised by this situation: | Sarah Hanson-Young says the whole ABC Board has been compromised by this situation: |
| .@Greens Senator @sarahinthesen8: We can’t have people hand-picked by the Prime Minister of the day or his government. It must be a board that is chaired and managed by somebody who has the support of all sides of politics.MORE: https://t.co/CIBSu3POSG #newsday pic.twitter.com/xwGiCWjHCl | .@Greens Senator @sarahinthesen8: We can’t have people hand-picked by the Prime Minister of the day or his government. It must be a board that is chaired and managed by somebody who has the support of all sides of politics.MORE: https://t.co/CIBSu3POSG #newsday pic.twitter.com/xwGiCWjHCl |
| Sarah Hanson-Young is holding her press conference - and she says the entire board needs to “consider their position”. | Sarah Hanson-Young is holding her press conference - and she says the entire board needs to “consider their position”. |
| Michelle Rowland has issued this statement: | Michelle Rowland has issued this statement: |
| This morning Labor stated that it had no confidence in ABC Chairman Justin Milne. | This morning Labor stated that it had no confidence in ABC Chairman Justin Milne. |
| Since then, Mr Milne has resigned his position. | Since then, Mr Milne has resigned his position. |
| Serious questions remain to be answered about political interference at the ABC. | Serious questions remain to be answered about political interference at the ABC. |
| These issues go the health of our democracy and can only be addressed through a full and public inquiry. | These issues go the health of our democracy and can only be addressed through a full and public inquiry. |
| The independence and integrity of the ABC is paramount. | The independence and integrity of the ABC is paramount. |
| This Liberal Government has ripped hundreds of millions of dollars out of the ABC, meddled in its affairs and launched relentless ideological attacks on public broadcasting. | This Liberal Government has ripped hundreds of millions of dollars out of the ABC, meddled in its affairs and launched relentless ideological attacks on public broadcasting. |
| The ABC is the public broadcaster, not a State broadcaster. | The ABC is the public broadcaster, not a State broadcaster. |
| The Australian people deserve answers and the Liberal Government cannot be trusted to provide them. | The Australian people deserve answers and the Liberal Government cannot be trusted to provide them. |
| The ABC board meeting to decide who will be the interim chair is under way. We’ll update you as soon as the meeting breaks. | The ABC board meeting to decide who will be the interim chair is under way. We’ll update you as soon as the meeting breaks. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Given what the act says, the acting board chair is most likely to be Peter Lewis. | Given what the act says, the acting board chair is most likely to be Peter Lewis. |
| If his name seems familiar, Amanda Meade tells me he ran the ABC efficiency review three years ago, and is a former chief financial officer of Seven. | If his name seems familiar, Amanda Meade tells me he ran the ABC efficiency review three years ago, and is a former chief financial officer of Seven. |