Carla McGrath has been removed as a member of the Australian Press Council due to her deputy chair position at activist group GetUp.

Indigenous member McGrath was appointed to the Press Council in May last year to “better reflect the Australian community”.

One month after her appointment The Australian said it would boycott all decisions and adjudications of complaints in which McGrath was involved in.

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Meanwhile in May earlier this year, McGrath declined the Press Council’s request for her to resign.

The Australian Press Council said McGrath had to be removed as a member because her position at GetUp created an “ongoing and irreconcilable conflict of interest with her role”.

“I believe this is the best outcome in a very difficult situation.

“Carla McGrath, as a respected member of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, would have brought an important perspective to the work of the Council. While the Council is committed to increasing diversity among its members, there is an overriding need for it to be independent and to be seen to be independent,” said chair Neville Stevens, in a statement.