Calls mount for ABC chairman Justin Milne to resign
The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and a number of high-profile media personalities have questioned ABC chairman Justin Milne’s understanding of editorial independence, after a leaked email revealed he tried to get rid of journalist, Emma Alberici.
A story in The Sydney Morning Herald this morning suggested Milne had asked ousted managing director, Michelle Guthrie, to “get rid” of Alberici, following complaints from the former prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.
Milne is under pressure to resign
Milne’s email, which urged Guthrie to ‘get rid of her’ was sent after Alberici released 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 piece was later reworked and republished.
Today, the MEAA said 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.”
The MEAA’s stance echoes comments by a number of journalists and ABC staff members across Australia today, who upon reading the email, have pressed for Milne to exit.
Former ABC radio presenter, Mike Carlton, said an ABC chairman had “no place” in making editorial decisions.
“ABC staff should pass a motion of no-confidence in him. Pronto,” he wrote.
An ABC chairman has NO place in making editorial decisions, nor to hire or fire staff. Milne has behaved disgracefully in attempting to axe Alberici to appease Turnbull and Fifield. ABC staff should pass a motion of no-confidence in him. Pronto.
— Mike Carlton (@MikeCarlton01) September 25, 2018
A blog by Andrew Bolt in the Herald Sun this morning, also said Milne “had to go”.
“We have a close mate of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who got him the job, taking up a personal beef Turnbull had with one staffer to demand her sacking, when Alberici’s failings were not sackable offences,” Bolt wrote.
“This kind of political calculation is disgraceful. Shame on the board for not quashing it immediately.
“Milne must go.”
On ABC Melbourne radio this morning, Alberici said she was not aware Milne had tried to have her sacked. She said it was “disappointing”, arguing it undermined the independence of the ABC.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, shadow communications minister Michelle Rowland called Milne on Wednesday demanding an explanation. The paper reports she is not satisfied with the response.
The pressure follows the termination of managing director Guthrie’s contract on Monday. Guthrie is currently considering her legal options.
A response from Milne this morning, which sits on the ABC website, said: “The job of the ABC Board is to independently govern the Corporation, protect its best interests, ensure that it is well funded, well managed and that our content is of the highest standards. That is precisely what the Board has done and will continue to do. I do not propose to provide a running commentary on day to day issues which arise in pursuit of our duties.”
it’s just such a surprise that a bloated, self important and anachronistic company choc full of latte sipping lefties and overpaid chardy quaffing media types sucking off the public teat would become such a hotbed of politics
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Oh this is so funny. The so-called “journalists” at the ABC first celebrate the sacking of one enemy and now conspire to get rid of another. As Matt Peacock said “Be careful with what you wish for”!!
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Red letter day.
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Mike Carlton ! Now there’s an independent opinion. For such as small following the ABC gets massive exposure, time for a complete makeover.
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It will not have occurred to Milne that his Directive to “get rid of” Alberici was totally inappropriate in his role as ABC Chair. In his mind, he is always right, and this justifies his crash or crash through approach to…well….everything. Looks like it will be a crash this time around….
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My friend Malcolm, who is doing a shit job of running the country, is offended you wrote an article pointing out that he is doing a shit job running the country, therefore you need to be fired!
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Here we go again. Why is that every few years or so, the independence of the ABC is threatened ? Why is it always from the conservative side of politics? And why is it always the so-called “lefties” who call it out ?
Ever since my days as a film editor on TDT assisting legends like Mike Carlton, Paul Murphy, Peter Manning et al, to inform Australians that the McMahon Govt needed ousting, there has been a continuous stream of aggression against the Charter written for the ABC which was designed to shield it from such attacks.
Sure, its OK to correct bias, or incorrect broadcasts or misuse of language ( oops… missing a bit there ! ) But to insert white ants into the ABC Management to deliberately effect the editorial content is a crime against our Society. So there !
My Name is Terry Morrissey, and I will stand up for the ole alma mata till I move out.
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Max, you might want to check your facts on this one. The ABC has been building its audience share, year on year, over the past decade. Something to do with people desperate for truth and facts in a media landscape being polluted by junk.
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Milne as chair was always odd – has been a digital laggard post early adsl days. Him and Guthrie were from different planets sophistication wise. Guthrie got it – and got the boot for it unfortunately.
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This is extraordinary. Milne should be sacked for his lack of judgement in putting something like that in writing. Is he really that stupid to think he could get away with that?
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Milne was right to defend the ABC funding from attack, by asking that Alberici be sacked to save ten’s, if not hundreds of jobs by her out of order opinions. The ABC obligation is to present, and reflect the views of the total electorate. The ABC and SBS have become a one party deep states much like Pravda and The Peoples Daily. Hopefully, like any vibrant democracy should be , the Australian Government stops owning media , and the ABC and SBS can live off their own devices.
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Worth lodging a complaint with the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Milne’s FAICD accreditation should be stripped, his conduct as chairman is disgraceful.
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Blinded to the bleeding obvious by Ego and Hubris, more like.
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Go to bed Alan, you’ve got a radio show to do in the morning
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Unfortunately Terry, the old lady, Aunty herself, died more than twenty years ago. What we see and hear today is just her twitching body as a result of the incessant running around of the internal parasites who now infect her and dictate her every move.
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Most vibrant democracies have a public broadcaster. You’re confusing state media with public media. Like the so-called Liberal party keep doing. And their trolls working for News Corp.
But whatever. When there’s nothing owned by Australians left, you’ll hopefully still be allowed to whine about it.
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Hhmmm,
Hhmmm understands that Milne is a dinosaur left over from the days of bullying, bringing on consultants, self interest and ego, (Kim Williams style!). Move these types on, they have no place in any modern management structure anymore.
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While we’re getting rid of ABC people how about Wendy Harmer.
Robbie buck is so much better without her this week. Her tired humour and digs at Buck drove me to 2GB– and that’s saying something.
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For a guy who made his career as a media analyst Colman is remarkably short on media knowledge.
Blind Freddy (editor of the Oz) could tell you that sacking a reporter to satisfy an editorial complaint is about the one thing no sensible manager would do. There’d literally be no staff.
I think it was Hearst who said News is something someone doesn’t want in print. Everything else is advertising.
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Hi terry here.Yeah I have many friends who would say the same thing….but you see, the world has changed for the worse… and i feel optimistic enough to believe that change will come…. not to where we were, but to an apoco lipps of deep importance. This will occur when Spike Milligan is reincarnated…. or our society will blow itself up…. or people will realise that they have been removed from the Earthly Mother and The Heavenly Father will nudge us back to where we should be….sorry about the nonsence… its late
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