The ABC needs a fresh start to move past this horror week for the board dogged by continued allegations of political interference, the Greens say.

“It’s not a matter of if, but when, chair Justin Milne vacates his position at the head of the ABC board. To give the ABC a fresh start and set it back on track, the next chair must be appointed with bipartisan support,” Greens media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens are calling for an urgent senate hearing with the ABC board to investigate political interference with staffing and reporting at the broadcaster.

“The ABC must be free of political interference. Revelations that the ABC chair demanded a journalist be sacked to appease the Government must be investigated as a matter of urgency,” Greens communications spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

Justin Milne has proven he cannot be trusted as the chair of our public broadcaster and must stand down, the Greens say.

“Mr Milne’s position is untenable. As the chair of an organisation that is supposed to be independent of Government, Milne has shown he can’t be trusted with the ABC,” Greens media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“Protecting the ABC from political interference is the most important responsibility of the Chair. 

A well-funded, independent public broadcaster is essential for a healthy democracy, the Australian Greens say.

“At a time when trust in politics and public institutions is so low, the ABC’s reputation as the most trusted news source must be protected and enhanced,” Greens media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“I would like to thank Michelle Guthrie for her honesty and commitment to the ABC’s special place in the hearts and minds of Australians during her time as General Manager.

Media diversity in Australia has taken a hit today following the announcement of the Nine/Fairfax merger, The Greens say.

“This merger paints a sad reality of the media landscape in Australia. It is a dark day for public interest journalism,” Greens media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“In this era of little faith in politics, and the rise in fake news, we need greater diversity and stronger public interest journalism. It is greatly disappointing to see our media diversity continue to be watered down.

The Australian Greens have announced today (Friday) they will introduce legislation to ban the import and sale of fake Aboriginal art, to overhaul the way Aboriginal art is marketed and sold, ensure its authenticity and protect the artists who produce it.

“For too long, Aboriginal artists have been ripped off and consumers have been duped by souvenirs imported to Australia from places like Indonesia and China where it is cheap to produce,” Greens arts and trade spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

A Greens’ motion congratulating the SBS for taking over television World Cup matches to Australian soccer fans has passed the Senate.

“The Liberals may put us all to sleep on their ramblings on letting the private sector provide services to Australians – but thankfully the SBS was there to wake soccer fans up from the nightmare that was Optus’s screening of World Cup matches,” Greens media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Liberal Party Council has exposed Malcolm Turnbull’s secret plan to sell off the ABC, the Australian Greens say.

“Malcolm Turnbull’s secret plan to privatise the ABC has been revealed. First it was doing a secret deal with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation to ‘whack off’ money from the ABC’s budget, now this,” Greens media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

“Selling off the ABC is electorally toxic. The Liberal Party has shown today it is completely out-of-touch with the Australian people.

The Liberal Government has refused to rule out further cuts to the ABC and does not know the name of the Indigenous nation it is planning to place yet another memorial to Captain James Cook on, it was revealed in senate estimates today.

Australian Greens communications and arts spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young asked Minister Mitch Fifield and his department what Indigenous nation the monument would be erected upon during Senate estimates this morning.

Malcolm Turnbull’s 2018 Budget is the latest episode in this Government’s relentless assault on the ABC.

"The ABC’s funding has been cut by a quarter of a billion dollars since the Coalition won the 2013 election promising “no cuts to the ABC”," Greens media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"The ABC gets a funding cut while News Corp gets a tax cut.

"Pauline Hanson has demanded a cut, and Malcolm Turnbull has delivered. Pauline Hanson and One Nation are writing the Turnbull Government’s media policy.