Former ABC Chairman Justin Milne reportedly asked triple j Content Director Ollie Wards to "take one for the team" and not move the annual Hottest 100 countdown from Australia Day last year.
According to The Guardian, a Senate inquiry into political interference at the ABC has heard that Wards was called into a meeting with Milne, former managing director Michelle Guthrie and radio executive Michael Mason after a survey conducted by the youth broadcaster found overwhelming support in favour of moving the countdown to 27 January.
Wards said a "heated discussion" with Milne ensued, who said that the decision to shift the date of the countdown would be "too controversial" and that Wards should “look after interests of the whole ABC” rather than the triple j audience.
While Guthrie allegedly did little to defend triple j, Mason reportedly told Milne that to not change the Hottest 100 date would be "catastrophic to the triple j brand".
As The Australian reports, Wards claimed Milne cited a book that discussed social change, saying "in that book it described about how activists who get out in front of public mood can end up - the words he used were 'getting burnt at the stake' - and that we wouldn't want to be burnt at the stake".
Wards added that Milne insisted former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull would not support the decision.
"He said: 'Malcolm will call me and tell me I'm crazy'."
Last year's Hottest 100 went ahead on 27 January and was listened to by 3.34 million Australians aged 16 and up.
Milne resigned from his position in September last year following allegations he interfered in several management decisions.
The inquiry comes on the 30th anniversary of the Hottest 100 today.
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