‘Out of touch’: Ita Buttrose slammed after ABC staff vote, union demands her replacement ‘restore’ reputation

The media union has lashed Ita Buttrose after she doubled down on her support for the ABC’s managing director as conflict at the public broadcaster rages on.

Media executive Kim Williams has been urged by the media union to “restore” the ABC’s reputation amid internal divisions over the broadcaster’s Israel-Gaza coverage.

Mr Williams was confirmed as the government’s pick to take over as the public broadcaster’s chair when Ita Buttrose’s five year term comes to an end in March.

In his first public comments, Mr Williams described the role as “privilege” but later acknowledged it was “probably the hardest job in media in Australia”.

He will take the helm of the public broadcaster as staff and management continue to clash over the ABC’s coverage.

Earlier this week, the ABC’s union house committee passed a vote of no-confidence in managing director David Anderson, claiming he’d failed to protect the broadcaster’s independence or protect staff.

Mr Williams will take over in March. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A day and a board crisis meeting later, Ms Buttrose rejected the union vote and called the claims “abhorrent and incorrect” as she maintained her support for the MD.

The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance acting chief Adam Portelli said the comments were “completely out of touch”.

“Dozens of staff have told us their first hand experiences of feeling unsupported by management when under external attack and the negative impact this is having on their ability to do their jobs and on the reputation and integrity of the ABC,” he said.

“But Ms Buttrose failed to acknowledge these concerns.”

Mr Portelli welcomed the appointment of Mr Williams and said he hoped the long time media executive would “bring a more collaborative approach” to dealing with issues of cultural safety and editorial integrity.

“He must understand that nothing less than the reputation of the ABC is at stake here,” the acting chief said.

Ita Buttrose told the government last year she would not be seeking a second term. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The current tension between ABC staff and management has been fuelled by a decision to sack fill-in radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf for sharing a Human Rights Watch report on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Ms Lattouf has taken the broadcaster to the Fair Work Commission, claiming she was racially discriminated in the decision.

The ABC has denied the allegation.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland stressed she maintained the “full confidence” in the public broadcaster when asked about Ms Lattouf’s action on Wednesday.

“We understand that the current situation particularly in the Middle East is deeply concerning to many Australians,” she said.

Ms Buttrose has backed ABC Managing Director David Anderson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We are also well aware that the ABC has been forthright in ensuring that its journalists have support, that it continuously improves itself with regards to support for its workforce and that all media organisations should seek to foster diversity in all its forms.”

Mr Williams was previously chief executive officer of News Limited (before it became News Corporation in 2013) and he held the roles for two years.

He also spent time as the AFL Commissioner, chair of the Copyright Agency and chief executive at the Australian Film Commission, Southern Star Entertainment and Fox Studios Australia.

Mr Albanese announced Kim Williams would take over from Ita Buttrose. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Williams is presently chair of Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company, Co-chair of the State Library of NSW Foundation Board and Director of Stradivarius Pty Ltd.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Mr Williams as “such a perfect fit for the role, it’s almost as if he was made for it”.

“Kim is someone who gets the ABC and he’s someone who understands instinctively what a national broadcaster can and should be,” he said.

Ms Buttrose, 82, was appointed chair in 2019 by former prime minister Scott Morrison following a period of “great organisational upheaval” at the broadcaster.

The Prime Minister called Ms Buttrose a “champion” and said her replacement was cut from the same cloth.

“Those of us who grew up singing the great Chisel song about Ita, it said a lot about her standing in the Australian community,” he said.

“Kim Williams is, I think, of all the people who were forwarded potentially as candidates for this position, shares a life experience and a breadth of capacity that he will bring to this role.

“That is similar to why Ita Buttrose was chosen for that job by the former government.”

Ms Buttrose will finish her five-year term on March 6.