Defend our ABC's independence!
***Update: Scott Morrison appointed an Acting Chair of the ABC...and it's not good.***
Outgoing ABC Chair — and Malcolm Turnbull mate — Justin Milne resigned after explosive leaks revealed he tried to get journalists sacked for angering the government.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the new Acting Chair of the ABC, Dr Kirstin Ferguson, failed to protect a whistleblower who alerted her to a bribery scandal over a multi-billion dollar coal deal, during a prior "ethics" role.
How can a mining executive be independent of a government with a pro-coal agenda? The process begins now to appoint a permanent Chair of the ABC Board. That person must be recommended by a merit-based panel and be truly independent of government.
Can you sign the petition calling for an end to government interference with our ABC?
Outgoing ABC Chair — and Malcolm Turnbull mate — Justin Milne resigned after explosive leaks revealed he tried to get journalists sacked for angering the government.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the new Acting Chair of the ABC, Dr Kirstin Ferguson, failed to protect a whistleblower who alerted her to a bribery scandal over a multi-billion dollar coal deal, during a prior "ethics" role.
How can a mining executive be independent of a government with a pro-coal agenda? The process begins now to appoint a permanent Chair of the ABC Board. That person must be recommended by a merit-based panel and be truly independent of government.
Can you sign the petition calling for an end to government interference with our ABC?

As Chair of the ABC Board, Justine Milne should have protected ABC journalism from political interference, not lead the charge. But explosive leaks have revealed that Milne was effectively acting as an agent of the Turnbull government. In recent times he:
We need a strong, independent ABC Chair to stamp out government interference. To get that, we need a massive public outcry demanding independence for our ABC.
Sign the petition today!
References:
[1] "ABC's Emma Alberici reacts to revelation Justin Milne pressured Michelle Guthrie to sack her", The Australian, 26 September 2018
[2] "Americans pay millions to whistleblower at BHP; we hound them out of their jobs", Sydney Morning Herald 29 August 2016.
[3] "ABC staff pass motion calling for chairman Justin Milne to stand aside over interference revelations", Sydney Morning Herald, 26 September 2018.
[4] "ABC board members appointed by Fifield despite being rejected by merit-based panel", The Guardian, 28 September 2018.
- Tried to "get rid of" respected senior reporter Emma Alberici – after her reporting put the government's corporate tax handouts under scrutiny.
- Told the ABC Managing Director to "shoot" ABC Political Editor Andrew Probyn, after Probyn criticised the government's choice of date for the July by-elections.
- Attempted to stop Triple J from moving their popular Hottest 100 countdown from Australia day - because "Malcolm will go ballistic".
We need a strong, independent ABC Chair to stamp out government interference. To get that, we need a massive public outcry demanding independence for our ABC.
Sign the petition today!
References:
[1] "ABC's Emma Alberici reacts to revelation Justin Milne pressured Michelle Guthrie to sack her", The Australian, 26 September 2018
[2] "Americans pay millions to whistleblower at BHP; we hound them out of their jobs", Sydney Morning Herald 29 August 2016.
[3] "ABC staff pass motion calling for chairman Justin Milne to stand aside over interference revelations", Sydney Morning Herald, 26 September 2018.
[4] "ABC board members appointed by Fifield despite being rejected by merit-based panel", The Guardian, 28 September 2018.
SIGN THE PETITION!
The ABC's independence is integral to Australia's democracy.
ABC Chair Justin Milne trying to get rid of journalists who were critical of government policy, and interfering in ABC editorial policy in response to government pressure, is completely unacceptable.
He must now be replaced by a chair who is truly independent of government. The ABC must be free from any and all political interference and fully funded, so it can continue to deliver fearless reporting to the public.
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