Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Wong, for your question. As colleagues know, I asked the Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts to undertake an inquiry, following newspaper articles that raised issues in relation to the independence of the ABC. I was asked at a doorstop interview whether the secretary of the department would be talking to me. I indicated that he was perfectly at liberty to talk to me. I have indicated to the secretary that which is consistent with the advice of the former managing director and the former chair to the secretary of the department, which is that I in no way, shape or form have ever sought to influence employment matters at the ABC and I never would.