Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull alerted SBS managing director Michael Ebeid to "offensive" Anzac Day tweets by journalist Scott McIntyre, but did not appeal for McIntyre to be sacked, Fairfax Media has confirmed.
Mr Turnbull said he did not discuss the tenure of McIntyre's employment with Mr Ebeid. SBS spokeswoman Jess Harris confirmed Mr Turnbull had not requested McIntyre's termination.
"SBS is an independent organisation and staffing decisions, including on this occasion, are entirely a matter for the organisation," she said.
McIntyre, a sports journalist, was fired on Sunday following five tweets in which he argued Anzac Day was "the cultification of an imperialist invasion of a foreign nation" and called some Australians commemorating the day "poorly-read, largely white, nationalist drinkers and gamblers".
Mr Turnbull said on Monday he "drew [the tweets] to the attention" of Mr Ebeid, but that staffing was the responsibility of SBS, not the government. Asked why he contacted Mr Ebeid – understood to be by text message – Mr Turnbull referred to remarks he had made to the news website Crikey.
"The comments were so offensive that they deserved the widespread condemnation that they received," he said.
"McIntyre, as a private citizen, is entitled to express his political views, but in his capacity as a reporter employed by SBS he has to comply with, and face the consequences of ignoring, the SBS social media protocol, a number of provisions of which were breached by him with his offensive tweets."
Mr Turnbull declined to answer questions about whether drawing the matter to Mr Ebeid's attention was a proper use of his power as a minister, or whether he would do the same again.
It is understood McIntyre is seeking legal advice and has been in contact with the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, the journalists' union.
A source in the SBS sports department said McIntyre's colleagues were told at a staff meeting on Monday that McIntyre was sacked because he disobeyed orders to remove the offending tweets.
SBS management said in a statement on Sunday that McIntyre had breached the broadcaster's Code of Conduct and social media policy. The latter document states that "while SBS employees have the right to make public comment and to enter into public debate in their personal capacity, it is important to ensure that SBS is not brought into disrepute".
Labour lawyers say an employee can be dismissed for a serious breach of a company policy that relates to their employment. McIntyre used Twitter for work purposes and to express personal opinions. In sacking an employee, an employer may argue the employee was responsible for damage to the employer's reputation.
- with Anna Patty
