Sunrise host David Kosh has used the morning show to quit his government post, and he went down swinging at “rich lobbyists” while telling a Nationals minister to “get a backbone”.

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Mr Koch was appointed as chairman to the Organ and Tissue Authority advisory council in August 2012 and was due to finish up in August this year.

As chairman of the advisory council Koch said he wasn’t consulted on the announcement that an inquiry would be held into the organ donation system, and found out when Channel Seven broadcast stories about it.

The Federal Government has called into question whether the organ donor system is getting results for its $250 million budget.

“Organ transplant rates have not increased as quickly as intended,” Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash said.

“We’re seeing relatively slow progress over the last six years. I have had some concerns and thought we needed to have a look at this.”

Fiona Nash is a Senator for New South Wales. Picture: Supplied

The ABC reported that the rate of organ donation had increased from 12.1 donors per million in 2008 to 16.1 per million in 2014.

Leveling his harshest criticisms at Senator Nash, Koch told her to “get a backbone”.

He said Australia’s standing in global donor rate rankings had risen from 32nd to 19th since 2009.

“The most disappointing thing for me is the politician in charge of donations, Fiona Nash, has not supported the authority’s program and caved into this rich lobby group and started yet another expensive inquiry into it. It’s an absolute disgrace. Fiona Nash, get a backbone,” he said.

“You didn’t even ring me as chairman of your advisory council to get my view, or even tell me an inquiry was coming.

“Obviously I’ve got no choice but to resign from the position and actively counter the tripe dished out by a whole bunch of rich lobbyists who just talk and do nothing.

He said “rich lobbyists” at organisations like ShareLife, which he said wanted to “take control of the reforms”, had waged war on the public organ donor system while not offering solutions.

ShareLife’s director Brian Myerson told Fairfax Media he was prepared to publicly debate the Sunrise host.

In response Senator Nash said the Authority “welcomed” the inquiry, and she said it was told a week ago.

“Mr Koch’s unexpected resignation is a loss to the organisation,” she said in a statement.