Milne lays out blame

FORMER ABC chairman Justin Milne is not backing down on his public criticism of the national broadcaster’s sacked managing director.

Mr Milne, who appeared before a Senate inquiry, has continued to shift the blame for the saga that has engulfed the ABC this year to Michelle Guthrie. “I take responsibility for terminating Ms Guthrie, and her subsequent actions since have led to this firestorm, that’s for sure,” Mr Milne told the inquiry in Canberra yesterday.

“It was a great honour to serve as the ABC chairperson. I resigned, not as a concession of any wrongdoing, but because of the media storm which followed the leaking of an out-ofcontext email.”

Mr Milne (pictured) says Ms Guthrie was sacked in September due to “poor leadership skills leading to a loss of confidence and trust in her”.

Ms Guthrie says the ABC board has never explained its reasons for her sacking.

Mr Milne has also denied inappropriate conduct allegations levelled against him by Ms Guthrie in a written submission to the committee. He was also questioned about his relationship with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.