ABC chief quits after trying to sack ‘hated’ journalists

THE leadership of the ABC, Australia’s public broadcaster, has descended into chaos as the chairman resigned following claims he tried to have two prominent journalists sacked to placate his friend Malcolm Turnbull, who was then the prime minister.

Just days after the ABC’S board sacked Michelle Guthrie, its managing director, the broadcaster’s chairman Justin Milne resigned amid allegations that he urged Ms Guthrie to sack Emma Alberici and Andrew Probyn, the economics correspondent and political editor, respectively.

“They [the government] fricken hate her [Alberici],” Mr Milne said in a leaked email. “She keeps sticking it to them with a clear bias against them … Get rid of her. My view is we need to save the corporation, not Emma.”

The allegations led to a furious reaction from staff and prompted the government to order an inquiry into whether Mr Milne interfered with the broadcaster’s independence.

Mr Milne said his emails were a confidential conversation about Alberici and denied trying to sack journalists. He said he had never been pressured by the government to hire or fire staff.

“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 told ABC Television.

On Monday, the ABC’S board made the announcement that it had sacked Ms Guthrie, reportedly due to concerns about her management style and her failure to effectively lobby MPS to support the broadcaster.

Ms Guthrie, a former Google executive, said she was “devastated” by her sacking and would consider taking legal action.