After the recent actions of the ABC board and its Chair, many critics have come out, that being various individuals, ABC staff and former ABC program hosts.

These people have sent out a message of wanting an "independent ABC", but hearing some their commentary has been conflicting. That being a somewhat pressing of their own positions and why these positions should be accepted. This is regardless of any ABC Charter being in place.

With that in mind, is it now impossible for the ABC to have any type of ability to be independent?

yep save ourself a billion a year and get rid of it.

Nathan,

The ABC's independence is a concern.

The Chairman of the Board has now resigned.
News Ltd claims that Mr Milne had ordered the
sacking of ABC's political editor Andrew Probyn,
and Emma Alberici to be sacked because the Coalition
MPs "hated" them both.

Milne is accused of writing
in an email that both of these journalists had
damaged the public broadcaster's standing with
Coalition MPs. And they had to go - because "There's
no guarantee they (the Coalition) will lose the
next election."

Leigh Sales will be conducting an interview with Milne
on the 7.30 Report tonight. It may be worth watching.

Alberici was the subject of complaints from the government
over 2 news stories which examined why many large Australian
Corporations did not pay corporate tax and an analysis
of proposed changes to Corporate tax rates.

Complaints were raised with the ABC over the two stories.
The news article (why many big corporations don't pay
corporate tax) was amended. The analysis piece (there's more
to jobs and growth than a corporate tax cut) was reworked and
republished.

Perhaps there should be a Senate inquiry into how much
interference is being conducted to the ABC by the government?
And what exactly is going on with all these sackings and
resignations? We should fight for the independence of our
ABC. It is not supposed to be a mouthpiece for the government
but a separate, independent body.

No in truth even many Liberal voters are supporters of the ABC
the incoming government, there will be a change, will preserve it and return some of its lost freedom.
claims of bias [truly wanting a bias that suits them] will follow and the third grade propaganda press with be outrageous and hurl abuse and lies at both the ABC and the Labor government.
Unfortunately for them this country will always have a place for truly free press and media.

What do you mean by 'independence' Nathan? The ABC is entirely dependent on the public for its existence, two thirds of whom don't even use its 'services', which amount to non-stop politicking of left-wing dogma. Even it's UNfunny home-made so called comedies are highly skewed to the left. And, the ABC completely ignores it's charter, a legal document.

The ABC will be independent only if it can be sold off to stand or not on its own merits, just like commercial networks. There is absolutely no need for the ABC as it is. It is just another government department and sheltered workshop for untalented bureaucrats.

"Is an independent ABC is now dead?"

You're using the wrong tense. Was it ever independent?

Its always been independent of commercial concerns.
Its always been independent of the populace.
Its been independent of government for decades at least.

But has it ever been independent of the left-wing cabal/employees that run it and set its agenda?

Perhaps... but not in my lifetime.