Warren Mundine has quit the SBS board just shy of two years into the five-year term.
Mundine explained to The Australian that his business commitments were making it difficult for him to continue serving on the board and that he was “very sad to leave” the public broadcaster.
“Now that we’ve come out of Covid and things have really taken off with my personal business interests, it’s starting to clash with the time I really need to give to SBS,” he said.
Mundine also told The Guardian Australia: “It became apparent that as my businesses were growing, I couldn’t provide the time that a director needed to commit to for SBS.”
The former Liberal candidate was appointed to the SBS Board by the Coalition government as a part-time non-executive director in October 2020.
Mundine, who is Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Yuin man, replaced Dr Bulent Hass Dellal who retired from the board in June 2020.
Mundine courted controversy during his two years on the SBS board. Last year, he called journalist and Monash University media lecturer Ben Eltham a “c**t” after he posted former federal MP Craig Kelly’s mobile phone number on Twitter.
While Mundine did not apologise for his stance on Eltham actions, he did however apologise for his own conduct. He told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time: “I shouldn’t be calling anyone the c-word and I accept that was a stupid thing for me to do. But the essence of it is that no one should be giving out people’s personal details.”
“I have deleted it. I’ve also decided personally that I’m going to go on a social media holiday for a couple of weeks and assess the situation,” he added.
The businessman also posted abusive messages on Twitter directed at Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, calling him “a complete asshole”, a “fool” and a “complete f**kwit” after Trudeau made comments about free speech in relation to the beheading of a teacher in France.
George Savvides, the SBS chair, thanked Mundine for his service on the Board in a statement released on Thursday.
“Warren Mundine has been a valued member of the SBS board since joining in October 2020,” he said.
“We understand the reasons for his decision, in that he has significant other business and personal commitments, and on behalf of the SBS board and the organisation I thank him for his service,” Savvides added.
James Taylor, SBS managing director, added: “I’d like to thank Warren for his contributions as a member of the board. We wish him well.”