Michelle Guthrie reportedly launches legal action against ABC, seeks millions of dollars

FORMER ABC boss Michelle Guthrie is understood to have lodged a Fair Work Commission claim after being sacked by the national broadcaster.

FORMER ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie, who was dumped from her role last month, is understood to have launched legal action against the national broadcaster.

It’s believed Ms Guthrie is taking the ABC to court seeking millions of dollars, and is expected to make legal claim that the board had no reason to terminate her, the ABC and Fairfax Media report.

It’s understood she lodged paperwork at the Fair Work Commission at the beginning of this week.

Michelle Guthrie had a total salary package of $890,987 for the financial year ending June 2017. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

The damages being sought my Ms Guthrie are likely to be high.

According to the ABC, Ms Guthrie had a total salary package of $890,987 for the financial year ending June 2017. She told a Senate Committee last October she was the highest paid person at the national broadcaster.

Former ABC chairman Justin Milne asked Ms Guthrie to resign on September 13, a day after they attended federal Parliament’s Midwinter Ball.

Ms Guthrie refused because she thought was doing a good job, and according to the Financial Review, even offered to change her leadership style. She managed to survive another 11 torturous days.

Ms Guthrie said she was devastated by the ABC Board’s decision to terminate her employment. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

She was just halfway through her five-year term at the helm when the board made a call to dismiss her.

“I am devastated by the Board’s decision to terminate my employment despite no claim of wrongdoing on my part,” she said at the time of her dismissal, noting that the board had “at no point” raised any issues with her about the ABC’s transformation under her direction.

Allegations that then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had pressured ABC board member Justin Milne to sack Guthrie and two journalists have been dismissed by a formal inquiry into the scandal.

Former ABC chairman Justin Milne asked Ms Guthrie to resign on September 13. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Communications Department Secretary Mike Mrdak found “no basis” for suggestions Mr Turnbull or any other government minister put “direct pressure” on the ABC.

At the time of her sacking, Ms Guthrie said: “My term concludes on 4 July, 2021. While my contract permits the Board to terminate my appointment without cause and with immediate effect, I believe there is no justification for the Board to trigger that termination clause. I am considering my legal options.”

More to come.