PM not ruling out merging ABC and SBS

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is not ruling out merging the ABC and SBS as an ongoing government review examines spending at the public broadcasters.

Merging the two taxpayer-funded broadcasters expressly falls outside the scope of the review, but asked if he was tempted by the idea, Mr Morrison said he was maintaining a "wait and see" approach to its findings.

"I'm going to wait for the results of the review to come back," he told ABC radio on Friday.

"I mean those sorts of ideas have been floated before ... I'll wait to see what the review says, I think that's the fair and sensible thing to do."

The inquiry, set up by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, is due to report to the communications minister in October.

Leadership turmoil at the ABC this week has left it without a managing director, a position also vacant at SBS.

The ABC is also searching for a permanent board chairperson.

Peter Tonagh, who is leading the efficiency review, says the ABC crisis makes for an "interesting" time to examine its spending and will allow his team to be "a little more creative" than they otherwise would have been.

Opposition communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said the prime minister must categorically rule out an amalgamation.

"Labor will never support merging the ABC and SBS," Ms Rowland said.