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Justin Milne resigns as chairman of the ABC board – live Scott Morrison welcomes Justin Milne's resignation as chairman of ABC board – live
(35 minutes later)
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.
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.
Here is what the ABC Act says about what happens when there is no ABC board chair:
19 Acting Chairperson
Where there is no Chairperson or the Chairperson is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the functions of Chairperson:
(a) the Deputy Chairperson shall act as Chairperson; or
(b) if there is no Deputy Chairperson, or the Deputy Chairperson is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to act as Chairperson, the Governor‑General may appoint a non‑executive Director to act as Chairperson, but any such appointment ceases to have effect if:
(i) where there is no Deputy Chairperson—a non‑executive Director is appointed as Deputy Chairperson; or
(ii) where the Deputy Chairperson is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to act as Chairperson—the Deputy Chairperson ceases to be so absent or becomes able to act as Chairperson.
ABC staff are beginning to give their reactions:
V relieved that Chairman of the ABC Justin Milne has resigned. Many staff were shocked and disappointed by his lack of commitment to uphold the independence of the ABC.
This photo was taken just last month.
None of these people are in their job anymore.
From the Leigh Sales interview segment which was just aired on ABC News:
Will you be continuing on as ABC Chairman?
No, Leigh. I won’t. The board asked me this morning and asked to have a meeting without me, to which I, of course, agreed, and at that meeting, I understand they decided to suggest to me that I might stand aside while the investigations that had been proposed take place. But I said, “Well, I think actually I should resign, because clearly there is a lot of pressure on the organisation,” and, as always, my interests, my aim, has been to look after the interests of the corporation. And it’s clearly not a good thing for everyone to be trying to do their job with this kind of firestorm going on so I wanted to provide a release valve.
Is your resignation an admission that you failed to safeguard the editorial independence of the ABC?
Absolutely 100% not. In fact I feel that the interests of the ABC have always been uppermost in my mind and just to sort of get it on the record for you is that there is absolutely no interference in the independence of the ABC by the government. Nobody from the government has ever rung me and told me what to do in relation to the ABC. Nobody ever told me to hire anybody, fire anybody or anything else. They absolutely didn’t. I know that’s the sort of the narrative that’s been running in the papers but that -but that absolutely never happened.”
The ABC is running part of Leigh Sale’s interview with Justin Milne now in its midday bulletin.The ABC is running part of Leigh Sale’s interview with Justin Milne now in its midday bulletin.
I said, well, I think actually I should resign because clearly there is a lot of pressure on the organisation and as always, my interests, my aim, has been to look after the interests of the corporation.”I said, well, I think actually I should resign because clearly there is a lot of pressure on the organisation and as always, my interests, my aim, has been to look after the interests of the corporation.”
While we wait to see the outcome of the noon board meeting, journalism professor Margaret Simons has some interesting asides:While we wait to see the outcome of the noon board meeting, journalism professor Margaret Simons has some interesting asides:
In the wake of #abc chairman Milne's resignation, here are some things to think about: Both ABC and SBS currently lack MDs. If the government didn't have enough trouble on its hands, this would be the moment when they try to merge them. 1 of several...In the wake of #abc chairman Milne's resignation, here are some things to think about: Both ABC and SBS currently lack MDs. If the government didn't have enough trouble on its hands, this would be the moment when they try to merge them. 1 of several...
#abc What about the rest of the board? What were they doing over the last few months while Milne was rampant? 2 of several#abc What about the rest of the board? What were they doing over the last few months while Milne was rampant? 2 of several
#abc given @SenatorFifield has appointed two board members who were NOT recommended by the arms length selection process, what assurances will he give that the new Chairman will be properly chosen?#abc given @SenatorFifield has appointed two board members who were NOT recommended by the arms length selection process, what assurances will he give that the new Chairman will be properly chosen?
Finally (for now) let's not fall into trap of "Milne bad = Guthrie good". In all the cases making the news, it was much more complicated than that. Remember the spin drs are active on both sides, and we have yet to see the complete email correspondence #abcFinally (for now) let's not fall into trap of "Milne bad = Guthrie good". In all the cases making the news, it was much more complicated than that. Remember the spin drs are active on both sides, and we have yet to see the complete email correspondence #abc
The ABC has reported the board will be meeting at noon to decide who will be the acting chair.The ABC has reported the board will be meeting at noon to decide who will be the acting chair.
It’s unlikely the board will appoint someone from outside at this stage, but stay tuned.It’s unlikely the board will appoint someone from outside at this stage, but stay tuned.
The broadcaster has also given some hint of the Leigh Sales interview with Justin Milne:The broadcaster has also given some hint of the Leigh Sales interview with Justin Milne:
In an exclusive interview, Mr Milne described the week’s events as a “firestorm” and said he “wanted to provide a release valve”.In an exclusive interview, Mr Milne described the week’s events as a “firestorm” and said he “wanted to provide a release valve”.
“Clearly there is a lot of pressure on the organisation, and as always, my interests have been to look after the interests of the corporation,” he said.“Clearly there is a lot of pressure on the organisation, and as always, my interests have been to look after the interests of the corporation,” he said.
“It’s clearly not a good thing for everybody to be trying to do their job with this kind of firestorm going on.”“It’s clearly not a good thing for everybody to be trying to do their job with this kind of firestorm going on.”
The ABC is now officially without a managing director and a board chair.The ABC is now officially without a managing director and a board chair.
More despatches from New York - but from a different former prime minister:More despatches from New York - but from a different former prime minister:
No Malcolm. It’s your standards that deteriorated. By applying political pressure to the ABC as Prime Minister on staffing decisions. For the record, my government refused to appoint political mates to the ABC Board. . https://t.co/dYCtkkr5ps via @smhNo Malcolm. It’s your standards that deteriorated. By applying political pressure to the ABC as Prime Minister on staffing decisions. For the record, my government refused to appoint political mates to the ABC Board. . https://t.co/dYCtkkr5ps via @smh
Still waiting to hear from ABC News Director, Gavin Morris, on the latest news, but here is what he had to say this morning:Still waiting to hear from ABC News Director, Gavin Morris, on the latest news, but here is what he had to say this morning:
To @abcnews staff asking me how to respond to these stories about the ABC, I’ve said this: hold your heads high, look everyone in the eye and get back to your desks, behind your microphones and in front of the cameras and do your jobs well. Your bosses are the Australian people.To @abcnews staff asking me how to respond to these stories about the ABC, I’ve said this: hold your heads high, look everyone in the eye and get back to your desks, behind your microphones and in front of the cameras and do your jobs well. Your bosses are the Australian people.
And here is where it seems to have played out:
I just finished an extensive interview with Justin Milne in which he announces his resignation as ABC Chairman. Don't miss #abc730 tonight
Just moments after reports came through that the ABC board had met without Justin Milne and resolved to ask him to resign, the ABC board chairman resigned.
That doesn’t do anything to change the status of the inquiries though.
Justin Milne has resigned as Chairman of the ABC.The ABC Board met this morning without Mr Milne. After that meeting the Board asked Mr Milne to step aside.The ABC Board is meeting at noon today to decide who will be the Acting Chairman.
Barrie Cassidy has been one of the strongest defenders of the ABC, with the job of commentating on what exactly has gone on, and why, falling to the Insiders host:
#Insiders host @barriecassidy says Malcolm Turnbull’s relentless whingeing to Justine Milne put pressure on him and in the end he cracked #auspol pic.twitter.com/O3PjxznbRi
There is radio silence from the ABC but reports are growing that the board has resolved to ask Justin Milne to step down.
Included in that radio silence is any denial.
While we wait to see if the board has resolved to ask Justin Milne to step down or not (trust us, the phone calls are flying everywhere), it might be worth revisiting what kickstarted it all – Emma Alberici’s tax analysis.
Here is Greg Jericho’s take, from the time.
As to why Michelle Rowland and Labor say this is so important:
The ABC brand is well trusted in Australia. It is one of Australia’s national treasures, as it is often called, and it is no secret that the ABC is consistently rated as the most trusted news source in Australia. And that is why, more than ever, in an era of fake news and media consolidation, Australia requires a strong, independent and well-resourced public broadcaster in the ABC. As this goes on, the ABC relies on people to have trust in it. If that trust is diminished, and if governments do not act to restore the trust, then that is a serious failing of our democracy …
There is no denying that the public’s perceptions of this have been negative. Whether it has been negative about whether there is quality journalism, that is another matter. But the public’s confidence in the running of the ABC and in the matters surrounding these matters certainly in the public’s mind, it is not good at all.
Michelle Rowland also says Labor believes a separate Senate inquiry into the allegations is absolutely crucial, despite Mitch Fifield having ordered his departmental secretary to investigate:
Labor is very concerned that not only do we need to have the actuals of this come out, but also the perception is very important. Let’s bear in mind that this is a minister who is a card-carrying member of the IPA, which advocates the privatisation of the ABC.
He has made substantial complaints to the ABC over various matters, he has presided over cuts to the ABC and, quite frankly, Labor does not have confidence that this inquiry done alone by his department will be satisfactory to bring those matters out. That is what the people are crying out for, they are crying out for transparency.
Does Labor have a problem with the decision to sack Michelle Guthrie?
Michelle Rowland leaves that one largely alone:
Labor understands that the board took an independent decision in order to effect that outcome. I made that clear on Monday when this became apparent, and Labor really understood, and we make that very clear, that we understand that those powers are there on the board is not required to give reasons.
But we want to know what the prime minister was told, what reasons he was given, what reason the minister for communications was given as to that sacking, in light of everything we now know in relation to the alleged political interference in the ABC.
There are unconfirmed reports that the board has asked Milne to step aside pending an inquiry.
BREAKING: The ABC board has asked Justin Milne to step aside while the inquiry is going on. The view was he could not continue as Chair while he was being investigated. In light of this, Milne is now understood to be considering his position as Chair and may step down entirely.