Michelle Guthrie files lawsuit against the ABC and names Justin Milne in papers

Ousted ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie has launched legal action in which she claims she was wrongfully dismissed by the broadcaster, as she personally targets former chairman Justin Milne and three other directors.

The ABC says it will defend its decision to sack Michelle Guthrie after the former managing director filed a lawsuit against the public broadcaster.

The suit filed in the Perth registry of the Federal Court also names former chairman Justin Milne and non- executive directors Joe Gersh, Vanessa Guthrie and Donny Walford as respondents, The Australianreports.

Ms Guthrie’s sacking in late September sparked a bitter public quarrel that also saw Mr Milne leave the ABC after he was accused of pushing the firing of two reporters because they were disliked by the government.

In the lawsuit filed on December 20, Ms Guthrie claims she was fired over complaints she made about Mr Milne.

An ABC spokeswoman denied this allegation to The Australian.

MORE: Everything you need to know about the Guthrie and Milne fallout

Former ABC Chairman Justin Milne and former Managing Director Michelle Guthrie. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

“Ms Guthrie was dismissed because the board had lost confidence in her. She was not dismissed because of any complaints she had made. Ms Guthrie also alleges that she could not be dismissed during her term. The corporation disputes that this is the case. Ms Guthrie’s termination was lawful,” the spokeswoman said.

In the lawsuit, Ms Guthrie also argues she was sacked before the expiry of her five-year term.

Mr Milne reportedly declined to comment about the lawsuit.

Ms Guthrie’s sacking and the conduct of the board was the subject of a Senat­e inquiry in Canberra last month, fronted by both parties.

Mr Milne accused Ms Guthrie of making up a conversation where he allegedly told her to sack political journalist Andrew Probyn after a complaint from then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Justin Milne at the inquiry in Parliament House in Canberra last month. Picture: Gary Ramage

The two former ABC bosses were completely at odds about their conversation on June 15 this year, with Ms Guthrie claiming Mr Milne said words to the effect of: “Malcolm hates Probyn … and you have to shoot him.”

She claims to have replied that she couldn’t “fire a journalist for making a mistake, I probably make ten mistakes a day, and that can’t be the test for firing someone.”

Mr Milne is said to have responded: “Your mistakes don’t upset the Prime Minister.”

In his testimony, Mr Milne categorically denied ever telling her to “shoot” Probyn or that Mr Turnbull hated him.

“That’s a script that she’s written,” Mr Milne said at the inquiry.