Shadow media minister Michelle Rowland ‘unhinged’ and hysterical’ over reforms, claims Fifield

Labor’s media spokeswoman Michelle Rowland made “unhinged” and “hysterical” comments about the government’s plans for the ABC, communications minister Mitch Fifield has claimed.

The attack from Fifield came during a Q&A panel at the Radio Alive conference featuring both politicians along with ABC boss Michelle Guthrie.

In order to get Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party to help vote through his media reforms package, Fifield agreed an inquiry would be held into the ABC’s impartiality and salary details of its best paid staff would be publicly revealed.

Earlier this month Guthrie criticised the focus on the organisation in a speech to the ABC Friends conference dinner. Afterwards, Fifield has described opposition as ranging from “hysterical” to “slightly unhinged”