The ABC's new acting chair Dr Kirstin Ferguson says the board of the national broadcaster has always had its best interests at heart, but accepts they must rebuild trust among Australians.
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"Actions speak louder than words. We need to knuckle down now and really focus on the future of the ABC," she told ABC TV on Friday.
ABC chairman Justin Milne quit on Thursday amid reports he called for journalists to be sacked because the government didn't like their reporting.
The resignation came three days after former managing director Michelle Guthrie was fired, with the board claiming it was "not in the best interests" of the broadcaster for her to continue in the role.
The prime minister on Friday announced he had nominated Dr Ferguson for the role of deputy chair, with the Governor-General endorsing his recommendation soon after.
The appointment means Dr Ferguson, who was appointed to the ABC board on 2015, will be acting chair until a permanent chair is found.
Dr Ferguson said she was "grateful" to Mr Milne for resigning and is now focused on stability, echoing faith expressed in her by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
"Kirstin will be able to step up into that role as recommended and I think restore some stability there which is very necessary," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney.
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek says there is a cloud hanging over the entire ABC board, as they only asked Mr Milne to step down when allegations against him became public.
"I think other board members really do need to examine whether they have fully discharged their responsibilities to protect and defend the ABC," Ms Plibersek said.
"Or whether, in fact, they've been voluntarily or involuntarily complicit in the government's political interference."
The former chairman denies he asked Ms Guthrie to fire senior journalists Emma Alberici and Andrew Probyn because the government didn't like their reporting.
"This draws a real question over the entire membership of the ABC board as it stands," Mr Albanese said.
Dr Ferguson said an inquiry ordered by Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, which is due to report back within days, will shed light on when the board learnt of the allegations.
"This is something that will all come out in the departmental inquiry which has been announced, so it's difficult for me to now go through that in detail."
Mr Milne has denied demanding any journalist be sacked, but maintains he was entitled to intervene on issues of editorial accuracy and independence.
In one email to Ms Guthrie, Mr Milne reportedly said the government hated Ms Alberici and the ABC should "get rid of her".
Mr Milne is also said to have ordered Ms Guthrie sack Mr Probyn by telling her "you just have to shoot him" because Mr Turnbull hated the journalist.
The ABC board met without Mr Milne on Thursday and asked him to step aside, but he resigned instead.
Labor has called for the appointment of a permanent chair to be a bipartisan process, and will join with the Greens in trying to initiate a Senate inquiry into the leadership issues.
Australian Associated Press
