2018-09-26
The Australian Greens are calling for an urgent senate hearing with the ABC board to investigate political interference with staffing and reporting at the broadcaster.
“The ABC must be free of political interference. Revelations that the ABC chair demanded a journalist be sacked to appease the Government must be investigated as a matter of urgency,” Greens communications spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“The chair of the ABC board has lost the faith of ABC staff and the trust of the Australian people in his gross attempt to get a journalist sacked.
“The Greens will work with Labor and other senators to form an urgent inquiry to question the ABC board and Justin Milne.
“Until we have transparency and clarity over what has happened and the extent of the political interference, a cloud will remain over the ABC’s future independence.
“He has overstepped the mark and betrayed the independence of our public broadcaster. Mr Milne must stand aside, and his conduct must be investigated.”