Federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is keeping tight-lipped about when the government will name the next chair of the ABC.
Former chair Justin Milne stood down in September after being accused of encouraging ex-managing director Michelle Guthrie to sack some journalists, claims he has denied.
Senator Fifield says an independent nomination panel handed the government a series of options for Mr Milne's replacement in mid-January, but it has not chosen one yet.
The matter is ultimately in the hands of the prime minister, he said, who will approach the governor-general about the government's choice when it has been made.
That means he can't offer guidance on when Australians will learn of the next chair of their national broadcaster, the minister said.
"It's in the nature of these things that announcements are made once decisions have been taken," Senator Fifield told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday.
"We don't pre-empt or comment on the timing of matters going to the governor-general."
The ABC is also currently recruiting its next managing director.
As the two leadership roles wait to be filled, 30-year veteran of the broadcaster David Anderson is acting as managing director and board member Kirstin Ferguson is acting as chair.
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