Mr Peacock is best known for his work uncovering the corruption and spin of the asbestos industry over three decades.

In 2013, Peacock became the first staff-elected director of ABC.

Mr Peacock said budgetary cuts are hurting the organisation.

"Like any organisation that is subjected to extreme stress it has had organisational chaos as well," Mr Peacock said.

"You have to work out how much budgetary cuts have been behind the chaos."

Mr Peacock said the one billion dollar price tag of the ABC that is often bandied about by critics is a misnomer.

"Three hundred million is taken out for transmission costs alone, of that there have been cuts in order of 350 million.

"That gives you an idea of the dimensions of the cut.

"The ABC has lost 1000 staff, around one fifth of staff have left the ABC.

"If this indexation freeze continues, than there is at least another 400 jobs to go.

Mr Peacock admits the ABC hasn't always got it right.

But he defended the ABC against accusations of bias from the conservative side of politics.

"Bob Hawke didn't like the ABC either when he was in power and Four Corners was reporting on things the Labor Party didn't like."

Mr Peacock was on the board which controversially appointed Michelle Guthrie as Managing Director.

She was later fired by the ABC board along with chairman Justin Milne.

By that time Mr Peacock had left the ABC and was no longer on the board.

Mr Peacock said Ms Guthrie was blamed for "a lot of decisions that were already in train by Mark Scott."

But he acknowledged she was unable to sell the ABC to the general public.

"She was not able to play the PR game and if you look at the job a lot of it is advocacy and PR."

He urged the public to consider carefully who they vote for on May 18.

He said the decision could have significant ramifications for the national broadcaster.