Justin Milne emailed Guthrie in May saying: ‘We need to save the ABC, not Emma’

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

There are calls for the chairman of the ABC to resign following revelations he told Michelle Guthrie to fire economics editor Emma Alberici after the former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull complained about her reporting of tax policy.

The instruction to fire Alberici came in an email from Justin Milne to then managing director Guthrie in May, Fairfax Media first reported on Wednesday.

Guardian Australia has confirmed the message.

“They [the government] hate her,” Milne wrote. “We are tarred with her brush. I think it’s simple. Get rid of her. We need to save the ABC – not Emma. There is no guarantee they [the Coalition] will lose the next election.”

Why the ABC board sacked Michelle Guthrie Read more

The comments were circulated to members of the ABC board a week before Guthrie was sacked as managing director on Monday.

In May, Fairfax reported, Turnbull sent a list of concerns to the ABC news director, Gaven Morris, about Alberici’s coverage of the government.

Reports of Milne’s intervention has brought a rapid response.

Staff have called for protest meetings to take place at lunchtime at ABC headquarters in Sydney. There will be speakers, placards saying ‘Hands off ABC’ and calls for Milne to resign pending an investigation.

Labor’s communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland called Milne for an explanation on Wednesday and described the situation as “extraordinary”.

“The independence and integrity of the ABC is paramount,” she said in a statement. “It must remain free from political interference and withstand criticism even if, and particularly if, that criticism comes from the prime minister of the day.”

She called on the minister for communications, Mitch Fifield, to “ascertain what has happened as a matter of urgency and confirm whether or not pressure was put on the former managing director to sack an ABC journalist.”

“Mitch Fifield must explain what he knows about this and why he thinks this is appropriate,” she said.

Play Video 1:39 ABC staff walkout over political interference allegations – video

Milne defended his actions on Wednesday, which he described as in line with the pursuit of his duties.

“The job of the ABC Board is to independently govern the Corporation, protect its best interests, ensure that it is well funded, well managed and that our content is of the highest standards. That is precisely what the Board has done and will continue to do,” he said.

“I do not propose to provide a running commentary on day to day issues which arise in pursuit of our duties.”

Fifield distanced himself from the situation, saying that while he had raised “factual errors” with the ABC in the past he “respected the legislated operational and editorial independence of the broadcaster.

“I have never involved myself in staffing matters, nor am I aware of any member of the government who has sought to do so.

“Questions about the ABC’s board and management are matters for the ABC.”

The secretary of the ABC section of the Community and Public Sector Union, Sinddy Ealy, said Milne had to resign over the Alberici intervention.

“It’s untenable for him to remain as the chairman of the ABC Board in light of his editorial interference on behalf of the Coalition Government,” she said.

That call was echoed by the journalists’ union, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.

The reports “would indicate Mr Milne has no understanding of editorial independence, proper complaints handling processes, or the appropriate distance a board chair needs to keep from staffing matters,” the union said in a statement.

Greens media spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young also said Milne’s position was untenable. “As the chair of an organisation that is supposed to be independent of government, Milne has shown he can’t be trusted with the ABC,” she said.

“Protecting the ABC from political interference is the most important responsibility of the chair.

“There can be no more serious breach than the apparent demand that a journalist be sacked at the behest of the prime minister of the day.”

“The board’s responsibility is to uphold the ABC Charter and ensure that the broadcaster is independent at all times and that its journalists and staff can do their jobs without fear or favour. Mr Milne must go.”

Alberici told ABC radio the reports of Milne’s email were “disappointing if it’s true” on Wednesday morning.

“… it does strike [me] as odd and very disturbing, if the other reports are true, that the minister was also somehow expressing a view about my continued employment,” she said.

“I just think it really undermines the independence of the ABC and that’s certainly why I work there.”

In response to questions about Milne’s email to sack Alberici a spokesman for the ABC board said: “The board was united in its disappointment at the need to correct content in the article. The board takes seriously its responsibility, as legislated in the ABC Act, to ensure that editorial output is accurate.”