Malcolm Turnbull didn’t harbour hatred for ABC journalists, Scott Morrison says

Scott Morrison says he spoke to his predecessor today and clarified the former PM had merely pointed out ABC journalists “got facts wrong’’.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says it’s all right for people to call the ABC out when they make mistakes. Picture: Richard Dobson

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Malcolm Turnbull was merely pointing out that ABC journalists were “getting facts wrong” in conversations with former ABC board chairman Justin Milne, revealing he spoke with his predecessor earlier today.

Mr Morrison said a communications department inquiry into the national broadcaster was simply intended to establish the facts, following allegations Mr Milne demanded deposed managing director Michelle Guthrie sack journalists Andrew Probyn and Emma Alberici.

Mr Milne has today resigned after sacking Ms Guthrie on Monday, amid allegations he ordered the former MD to sack Ms Alberici because the government “hated” her, and directed her to “shoot” Mr Probyn following a meeting with then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Overnight Mr Turnbull told reporters in New York that he had never asked Mr Milne to sack journalists.

“As you know, last night, yesterday afternoon, the Communications Minister and I spoke, and he has initiated through his department an inquiry into this,” Mr Morrison said.

“We’re not talking about something with 50 officers running around the buildings of the ABC.

“I mean there are some simple facts here that have to be established, and I think before anybody races off on anything here, I think those facts need to be determined and I’m in the process of getting those facts, but once those facts are known, then I think, you know, there’ll be judgments for people to make, including the chairman.”

Asked whether he was aware that Mr Turnbull “harboured a hatred” for ABC reporters, Mr Morrison said: “No. I wasn’t. And he didn’t.”

“I mean he didn’t. I actually spoke to Malcolm today,” Mr Morrison said.

“I speak to Malcolm pretty frequently, and no, what the former prime minister did, just like I have as a minister, and I’m sure others ... you know, the ABC isn’t perfect, you know, they make mistakes, and it’s all right for people to call them out on that and raise those issues with the ABC.

“We’ve all done that before. Members of the public do that. Members of Parliament do that. Prime ministers do it. Ministers do it.

“But it’s not our job to tell the ABC how to run itself and how to then, you know, deal with any complaints.

“They’re responsible for how they do that. The ABC board is responsible for the reputation of the ABC and its independence and we support them in being independent and I want to ensure that as we deal with this issue, that the independence of the ABC is not in question. “But equally, they’ve got to get it right too. So, you know, they’ve also got to handle those issues but that’s not what the current discussion’s about.

“It’s about the independence, which, you know, has the full support of our government and always has.”

Mr Morrison said he had previously contacted the ABC about its coverage.

“Yeah I have, because they’ve got it wrong on plenty of occasions and they’ve apologised to me for getting it wrong on a number of occasions as well,” he said.

“That’s probably the more shocking thing, surprising I should say.

“But that’s my point. There are processes, we use them, and responses are provided. and that’s how it should work, but the idea that the government has somehow got some list and is telling the ABC who should work there and who shouldn’t, that’s just complete rubbish.

“They’ve got an independent board. They’ve made decisions about their managing director. They made those decisions.”

Asked whether it was concerning that Mr Milne appeared to have intervened in a staffing matter claiming he was doing so on the basis of the government’s views, Mr Morrison said that was why he was seeking to establish the facts.

“You’ve got to be fair,” he said.

“I mean people have made allegations. They’re pretty serious allegations I’ve got to say, and on the face of it that’s very concerning, very concerning.

“But I’m not going to prejudge it based on some newspaper or internet or, you know, television reports. I’m going to base that on the clear advice and the evidence presented by the department. “

Mr Morrison said he had not spoken to Mr Milne.

“No, I haven’t. The minister has, that is his job,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the occasions on which he had complained to the ABC over inaccurate reporting were on the public record.

“On a number of occasions I have and I don’t apologise for it,” he said.

“We stand in front of the media every day and you can ask all the questions that you should and you can, but if you get it wrong we’re also allowed to point that out.

“What the former prime minister was saying is that on quite a number of occasions they were getting facts wrong, and he was pointing that out and he was expecting better.

“I expect all journalist to check their facts. It doesn’t matter whether you work for the ABC or anywhere else. The Australian public relies on journalists to check their facts, and to report the news, not just give opinions.”

Fifield seeks answers from all parties

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says he has never tried to have anyone from the ABC fired and is not aware of any other government members doing so. Picture: AAP

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says a departmental inquiry into the ABC will seek answers from all relevant parties, including embattled chairman Justin Milne, acting managing director David Anderson, deposed managing director Michelle Guthrie and members of the government.

Senator Fifield called the inquiry yesterday, amid allegations Mr Milne demanded Ms Michelle Guthrie sack journalists Andrew Probyn and Emma Alberici.

Mr Milne is fighting for his own job after sacking Ms Guthrie on Monday, amid allegations he ordered the former MD to sack Ms Alberici because the government “hated” her, and directed her to “shoot” Mr Probyn following a meeting with then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Overnight Mr Turnbull told reporters in New York that he had never asked Mr Milne to sack journalists.

Senator Fifield said it had been a difficult week for the ABC, but it was important the national broadcaster’s work continued.

“The independence of the ABC is something that this government is deeply committed to,” he said.

“The ABC has legislated independence in relation to operational programming, editorial and staffing matters and, as the Minister for Communications, I have always respected the independence of the ABC.

“Like most members of parliament, I have, on occasion, raised with the ABC issues of facts in reporting, as indeed I’ve done with commercial media organisations.

“But, at no stage, and in no way, shape or form, have I ever sought to involve myself in staffing matters in the ABC, nor, for that matter, am I aware of any member of the government who has sought to do so and that includes the former Prime Minister who has spoken to these matters overnight.”

Senator Fifield said the government took issues of ABC independence which had been raised in recent days very seriously.

“Which is why, following discussions with the Prime Minister yesterday, I asked the secretary of my department, the Department of Communications and the Arts, to undertake an inquiry to establish the facts in these matters,” he said.

“I’ve done so because it’s important for the community to have confidence in the ABC and its independence.”

Asked what powers departmental secretary Mike Mrdak would have, Senator Fifield said the secretary would be talking to “all relevant parties”.

“The chair, the current acting Managing Director, he will invite the former Managing Director to participate,” Senator Fifield said.

“He will talk to members of the board. He will talk to other staff members as relevant.”

Asked whether he would be interviewed as minister, Senator Fifield said: “Mr Mrdak is at liberty to raise with me any matter that he wishes to.”

Asked whether the entire ABC board should step down, Senator Fifield said: “Part of the work of Mr Mrdak will also be to obtain documentary material which is relevant to his inquiries.”

Senator Fifield said he had never, “in any way, shape or form”, sought to involve himself in staffing matters at the ABC.

“I have never called for or sought the end of the employment of anyone at the ABC, or any media organisation, for that matter,” he said.

“I have only ever raised with the ABC matters in relation to facts in reporting.

“I think I’ve done so on half a dozen occasions since I’ve been the minister and those occasions are all very well-known.

“In correspondence to the ABC, where I have had issues of fact in reporting, clearly, I’ve made reference to the particular reporter.”

Senator Fifield said such complaints were part of the way that a “free, open and democratic press operates”.

“The press should be free to go about their business but, equally, citizens, including members of parliament, should have the freedom to raise issues when it comes to questions of fact in media reporting,” he said.

“I would hope that the media organisations in Australia take equally seriously questions of fact that are raised, regardless of who raises them.”

Asked whether it was plausible that Mr Milne had understood that Mr Turnbull wanted Mr Probyn or Ms Alberici sacked following their conversations, Senator Fifield said he had never personally sought to have any employee of the ABC removed from their position.

“Can I also say that I had never heard the former prime minister seek to have any employee of the ABC removed,” he said.

“The former prime minister has been very consistent. What he has said publicly on these matters is the same as he has said in meetings.”

Asked whether he was aware of Mr Turnbull harbouring “hatred” towards any ABC reporters, Senator Fifield said Mr Turnbull was a “very mellow individual”.

“He only, to my knowledge, has raised issues of fact in relation to reports by journalists,” Senator Fifield said.

Asked whether he was accusing Mr Milne of lying to Ms Guthrie in allegedly telling her Mr Turnbull wanted Mr Probyn and Ms Alberici sacked, Mr Fifield said: “There’s a media report today and one of the reasons why I have asked the secretary of my department to undertake an inquiry is to establish the facts.”

He said he would like Mr Mrdak to conduct the inquiry as quickly as possible.

“It’s ultimately matter for him but I would be hoping it’s a matter of days and not weeks,” Senator Fifield said.

Asked whether Mr Milne should resign, Senator Fifield said it was a “matter for every high office holder to continually assess whether they retain the capacity to effectively discharge the duties of their office.”

“I spoke to Mr Milne yesterday to advise him that Mr Mrdak would be undertaking an inquiry into these matters,” Senator Fifield said.

“I informed Mr Milne that this work would be undertaken and Mr Milne indicated that he would be cooperating.”

Asked whether he had sought to clarify the veracity of the media reports about Mr Milne ordering Ms Guthrie to sack journalists, Senator Fifield abruptly ended the press conference.

“Mr Mrdak has the task of establishing the facts in these matters,” Senator Fifield said as he turned and walked away from assembled media.