ABC staff unanimously pass motion for chairman to stand aside
ABC staff have called for an inquiry into Justin Milne’s alleged interference in staffing matters, and said he should stand aside while it is conducted.
The decision follows mounting pressure on the chairman to resign, after a story in The Sydney Morning Herald alleged Milne had urged recently ousted managing director Michelle Guthrie to ‘get rid’ of journalist Emma Alberici following complaints from former prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.
Milne’s email was sent after Alberici wrote a series of articles related to company tax rates. At the time, the ABC removed an analysis piece by Alberici related to the proposed changes, and revised a news story which accompanied the piece. The analysis piece was later reworked when it was found not to meet the ABC’s editorial standards.
This afternoon, staff met at ABC’s Sydney headquarters in Ultimo, unanimously passing a motion for Milne to step down from his role while an independent inquiry was underway.
“That we call for an independent inquiry into the allegations that have been made in the media today, and for the chairman to stand down in the interim while the investigation takes place. The idea behind the investigation is to secure the editorial independence of the ABC from top to bottom,” a statement on the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance website said this afternoon.
Milne has been chairman of the ABC since March 2017.
ABC staff have backed a Union motion for an independent inquiry into the @albericie email and for Justin Milne to stand aside during that inquiry #auspol #abcyours pic.twitter.com/N4Q1kTCbKJ
— Jason Om (@jason_om) September 26, 2018
In Melbourne, the ABC also called for Milne to step aside to make room for an inquiry.
Brisbane ABC staffers went further, unanimously calling for Milnne’s immediate resignation should the email exchange prove to have occurred.
Since the initial Sydney Morning Herald article was published this morning, a number of journalists have come forward, expressing their disdain for Milne’s activity. Former ABC radio presenter, Mike Carlton, said an ABC chairman had “no place” in making editorial decisions, while a blog by Andrew Bolt in the Herald Sun this morning, also said Milne “must go”.
The MEAA added the report was “deeply disturbing”.
“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,” a statement said.
“If true, Mr Milne should resign immediately.”
Sad. That Milne is so utterly stupid. That the icon at the centre of this ethical outrage is Alberici, of all people. That the ABC staff are led by the man who starred in The Bicycle Thief.
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Wonder when people will wise up to the fact that you can’t expect a dodgy email to stay private.
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Some of the staff might be advised to think again about management and what they do without the ability to talk publicly. Mr Faine. Ms Neighbour. Mr Adams.
It is always sad to see how little journalists understand about their own environment, let alone the one we all live in.
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He won’t step down.
That breed never does.
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He won’t step down.
That breed never does.
He’ll need to be pushed.
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I think the ABC is past caring about. Just another billion dollars that’s unaccountable.
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Ahhh, tit for tat actions from the staff I see.
After all, since Abbott got into power the LNP has been passing motions from a great height all over the ABC.
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