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Former ABC chairman steps down from ME board

The outgoing chairman of the ABC has informed ME Bank that he will not be seeking re-election to the board in the next annual meeting in October.

Justin Milne, who resigned as chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday (27 September), has stepped down from his position on the board of ME Bank.

According to the bank, Mr Milne had previously notified ME Bank that he would be stepping down from the board after serving for six years.

His replacement will reportedly be decided at the bank's next annual meeting.

A spokesperson from the non-major bank clarified with Mortgage Business that Mr Milne’s decision to quit the board was made independently “some time ago”.

On Thursday, Mr Milne resigned from his role as the chairman on ABC following allegations that he had interfered in editorial independence. It is alleged that the former ABC chair emailed the former ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie asking her to fire senior journalist Emma Alberici following directions from his former business partner and ex-prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.

The former prime minister has since denied issuing any directions to Mr Milne.

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The Morrison government had ordered the communications department to investigate the allegations made against Mr Milne, while Communications Minister Mitch Fifield on Thursday declined to support the ex-chairman continuing his position at the media organisation.

“It’s a matter for every high office holder to continually assess whether they retain the capacity to effectively discharge the duties of their office,” Mr Fifield said.

[Related: Regulators ‘have a case to answer’]

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