ABC chairman Justin Milne has to go over push to sack Emma Alberici

ABC chairman Justin Milne with former managing director Michelle Guthrie. Picture: John Feder

ABC chairman Justin Milne wanted Michelle Guthrie gone and got his wish - but now surely he must follow her out the door. His intercession in the controversy over a shoddy report by economics correspondent Emma Alberici - revealed in a leaked email – was beyond the pale and reeks of political interference.

Anyone with experience in management knows the difficulties and sensitivities around terminating staff and the need to consider the proportionality of any alleged transgressions. And anyone with knowledge and experience of journalism, politics and public broadcasting should realise how unwise and improper it is to convey even the perception of political interference.

Without raking over the coals of Alberici’s report, it contained mistakes and embarrassed the national broadcaster in the midst of a highly contentious partisan political debate. It warranted apologies and corrections but taken in the context of previous editorial breaches at the ABC the suggestion that it warranted dismissal rather than admonishment was way over the top.

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Still, it is hardly surprising that the chairman would discuss this case with the managing director; Milne had every right, even a duty, to ensure the matter was being handled appropriately - the ABC’s reputation was at stake.

Protesters outside the ABC on Wednesday. Picture: John Grainger

But the gist of his email was improper. “They hate her,” he wrote, referring to the government.

“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.”

Whatever censure people might think was warranted for Aunty’s economics correspondent, the alleged hatred or otherwise of the government should never have been a factor. The only issue for Milne and Guthrie to consider was the internal matter of journalistic standards and objectivity. By referring to the government’s views about a particular reporter, Milne has outed himself and the organisation as being susceptible to political interference. This is unacceptable.

That he was silly enough to put such a view in an email only compounds the error and has provided ammunition for whoever leaked the email. Milne’s over the top intervention and its wrong-headed rationale have turned the ABC drama on its head.

Yesterday, ABC staff gloated over Guthrie’s departure, kicking her on her way out and complaining that she was never their champion, while Alberici was a somewhat diminished figure in the broadcaster’s journalistic stable.

Now Guthrie appears to have been a strong leader who stood firm for journalists against her chairman and resisted political interference. Milne is now facing calls for his resignation. And Alberici will be beatified as a martyr to the cause of editorial independence.

If they could serialise this drama, the ABC would have a ratings winner. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield will need to restore calm and order quickly, if possible, Tonightly.