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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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Version 6 Version 7
Scott Morrison welcomes Justin Milne's resignation as chairman of ABC board – live Scott Morrison welcomes Justin Milne's resignation as chairman of ABC board – live
(35 minutes later)
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.
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/o3JJVWw8Q3Outgoing 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.
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.
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:
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 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 #abc
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.
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”.
“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.”
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:
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 @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:
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.