Outgoing ABC chairman says it’s been a ‘firestorm’ week for the ABC, but soon after resigning on Thursday he rejected claims he interfered in the National broadcaster’s editorial independence

In a week which saw the sacking of managing director Michelle Guthrie and Mr Milne’s resignation, the ABC’s board was meeting Thursday afternoon to decide who will be the new acting chairman.

In an exclusive interview with the ABC 7.30‘s Leigh Sales, Mr Milne said he “wanted to provide a release valve”.

“Clearly there is a lot of pressure on the organisation, and as always, my interests have been to look after the interests of the corporation,” he said.

“It’s clearly not a good thing for everybody to be trying to do their job with this kind of firestorm going on.”

Mr Milne had been under enormous pressure to stand down and his decision was welcomed on Twitter by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

ABC Board and Chairman have made the right call. Time for the ABC to resume normal transmission, both independently and without bias. That is what Australia’s taxpayers pay for and deserve.

— Scott Morrison (@ScoMo30) September 27, 2018

In the days after Ms Guthrie’s acrimonious departure, explosive reports claimed Mr Milne had earlier urged the then managing director to sack two prominent reporters because the Government “hated” them.

The ABC board met on Thursday morning without Mr Milne, and subsequently asked him to step aside.

He had refused to budge despite leaked emails that have been widely viewed as direct evidence of a breach of his director duties under the ABC Act.

Fairfax media had claimed Mr Milne emailed Ms Guthrie in May to insist senior journalist Emma Alberici be fired.

Another report in News Limited publications claimed Mr Milne had ordered the sacking of ABC political editor Andrew Probyn.

Mr Milne told the ABC he had always tried to safeguard the national broadcaster’s editorial independence.

“There was absolutely no interference in the independence of the ABC by the government,” he said.

Nobody from the government has ever rung me and told me what to do in relation to the ABC.”

The ABC’s Acting Managing Director David Anderson said in a message to staff that “the ABC’s independence is paramount and can never be compromised”.

“I want to assure you that the Leadership Team is focused on getting on with the job we do best: delivering Australia’s best journalism and Australian content for our audiences.

“Days like these are not easy, but you should all be proud of what you do. We are here to serve the Australian people and I want to thank you for your continued dedication and professionalism during this time.”

Earlier, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield declined to say whether Mr Milne should remain in his role, ordering an inquiry into the allegations.

“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,” he said in Melbourne on Thursday morning.

“I have never, in any way, shape or form, sought to involve myself 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,” Mr Fifield said.

Labor’s communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said on Thursday the Opposition no longer had confidence in Mr Milne.

The Daily Telegraph on Thursday reported on a leaked ABC board document in which Ms Guthrie alleged Mr Milne ordered her to fire Mr Probyn.

“You have to shoot him”, the Telegraph reported the document as saying, because Mr Turnbull “hated” Mr Probyn. The exchange was said to have occurred in a telephone conversation on June 15.

It was only the latest in a string of explosive leaks. Mr Milne has not denied he wrote the May 8 email to Ms Guthrie, in which he advised her to “get rid” of economics correspondent Emma Alberici because “they [the Coalition government] hate her”.

Meanwhile, Mr Turnbull has flatly denied that he pressured Mr Milne to sack reporters.

Speaking in New York, where he was due to address a United Nations general assembly event, Mr Turnbull rejected suggestions he had asked for specific ABC reporters to fired.

“That is not right. The bottom line is I have never called for anybody to be fired,” he said, according to News Corp Australia.

ABC staff from around the country voted on Wednesday that Mr Milne should step aside from the chairman’s position.

-with agencies