The inquiry, led by the secretary of the Department of Communications, would establish the facts "as soon as possible", Mr Fifield said. "It is important for the community to have confidence in the independence of the ABC."

A source close to Mr Milne said he would not step aside during the government inquiry and the board had no plans to reconvene.

Days after ABC staff celebrated the sacking of Ms Guthrie as managing director, they turned their ire on the chairman who made that decision. Journalists gathered in record numbers at lunchtime on Wednesday and unanimously voted for their chairman to stand aside, while being assured by their bosses that the ABC would not bow to political pressure.

Director of news Gaven Morris gave an off-the-record speech to staff in Sydney, at which he said he had spoken to Alberici and Probyn, and vowed that complaints against journalists would always be dealt with through the proper channels.

According to people in the room, Morris told his journalists he got "lots of free advice" on how to run the newsroom, some of it pertinent and some of it not. He urged them to remain "strong and gutsy", noting Alberici and Probyn were "unaware" of the pressure from the board, and that ultimately no action was taken against them.