The ABC has brushed aside the Turnbull government's attacks on the broadcaster's new staff deal and pushed ahead with the legal process surrounding its enterprise agreement.
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As the new agreement with the corporation's staff was lodged with the Fair Work Commission on Wednesday, the ABC launched a sharp and public counter-attack against its government critics.
In a letter published on the ABC's website, the broadcaster's chairman, Jim Spigelman, said the Public Service Commission's attack on the ABC's new workplace deal was out of line.
Mr Spigelman said Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd's public statements on the corporation's enterprise agreement were wrong.
Mr Lloyd shot back late on Wednesday, saying the ABC chairman's statements were hard to "fathom".
Mr Spigelman said Mr Lloyd's public intervention represented a challenge to the ABC's independence from the commissioner and his political masters.
The chairman also revealed how he had been pressured by Employment Minister Michaelia Cash and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield to impose the terms of the Coalition's policy.
The two ministers are reportedly "infuriated" by the new enterprise agreement, with its back pay, a $500 sign-on bonus, boosted parental leave and a new provision for domestic violence leave.
Specified leave for domestic violence victims is an especially touchy subject for Senator Cash, who is also Minister for Women, with the minister and the Public Service Commissioner having voiced opposition to the entitlement.
Mr Spigelman's letter was posted on the ABC website after the corporation lodged its new enterprise agreement with the Fair Work Commission for approval, the final step in the process of putting the agreement in place.
Under the Fair Work Act, it is possible for Mr Lloyd or either of the ministers to try to stop the registration of the ABC's agreement, but they would first have to convince the Fair Work Commission their objection was worthy of being heard.
The offices of Senator Cash and Senator Fifield were both approached for comment on Wednesday.
The ABC chairman dismissed Mr Lloyd's claims that the broadcaster was bound to comply with the strictures of the bargaining policy.
"No lawful basis for this assertion has ever been identified in any relevant communication from the Commonwealth government to the ABC," Mr Spigelman wrote.
"It is the firm belief of the ABC board that there is no lawful requirement to comply in this regard.
"It had only to give consideration, which it did."
Mr Spigelman also said in his letter that workplace unions, which publicly welcomed the 70 per cent 'yes' vote in the all-staff ballot on the enterprise agreement, were actually opposed to the deal going to a vote.
"After 26 weeks of fruitless negotiations and the threat of industrial action, the ABC bypassed the unions and put the offer directly to staff," Mr Spigelman wrote.
"The vote was an overwhelming endorsement of the deal and ABC strategy."
The Community and Public Sector Union rejects that version of events.
Mr Spigelman, in his letter, accuses Mr Lloyd of over-stepping his statutory authority.
Mr Lloyd released a statement on Wednesday afternoon, saying he stood by his comments on the agreement.
"It is hard to fathom how the independence of an agency that is funded by taxpayers is threatened by the requirement to comply with an administrative policy such as the bargaining policy," Mr Lloyd said.
