Communications Minister Mitch Fifield says he was unaware of allegations former ABC chair Justin Milne wanted two senior journalists to be sacked.
But Senator Fifield did reveal he knew Mr Milne, who subsequently quit over the scandal, wanted to sack ex-managing director Michelle Guthrie almost two weeks before she was shown the door.
"I have never in any way, shape or form sought to involve myself in staffing matters, nor am I aware of any current or former member of the government seeking to do so," the minister told parliament on Monday.
The former chairman denies asking Ms Guthrie to fire senior journalists Emma Alberici and Andrew Probyn because the government didn't like their reporting.
Former ABC chairman Justin Milne and former director Michelle Guthrie. Source: AAP
Mr Milne told Senator Fifield that Ms Guthrie was going to be sacked on September 12, 11 days before the board resolved to terminate her as managing director.
Labor senator Deborah O'Neill said the saga represented a historic moment in terms of the level of the government's assault on the public broadcaster.
"The sort of intimidation going on for journalists in this country is absolutely extraordinary," Senator O'Neill said.
She accused Senator Fifield of giving Mr Milne the impression he had to sack journalists over negative coverage of the government.
Labor and the Greens have repeated their calls for a Senate inquiry into the ABC's independence.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said a departmental review of the ABC was an "absolute joke".
