'Australians trust Ita': Scott Morrison announces Buttrose as ABC chair

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has formally announced Ita Buttrose as the government's pick to chair the ABC, declaring he trusts the publishing icon to lead the public broadcaster out of a tumultuous period.

In a press conference on Thursday, Ms Buttrose said she was a passionate believer in the ABC and promised to protect its independence. She said her priority was restoring stability at the top of the organisation after the high-profile departure late last year of her predecessor Justin Milne and managing director Michelle Guthrie.

"Australians trust Ita. I trust Ita and that's why I have asked her to take on this role," Mr Morrison said.

"The reason she has been so successful in publishing, in broadcasting, is she has always put her viewers, her listeners and her readers first. And you know what? That's what the ABC needs to do too."

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age first revealed Ms Buttrose was being considered and her subsequent emergence as the government's pick, despite her name not being on the shortlist put forward by an independent nomination panel.

Ms Buttrose confirmed she had not been part of the recruitment process but said she was honoured to be invited to lead the organisation and to steady the ship after a "period of unrest".

"I’m a passionate believer in the independence of the ABC and I will do everything in my utmost power to make sure it remains that way," she said.

"It’s time to get the ABC functioning again with proper stable management and good, frank discussion between the chair and whoever is the managing director."

Following the breakdown in relations between Mr Milne and Ms Guthrie in 2018, Ms Buttrose said a strong relationship between the chair and managing director was critical to the organisation's stability.

"If there's not a close relationship between the chair and the managing director, you cannot make an organisation work efficiently and well," she said.

Applications for the managing director position close on Friday, March 1. The appointment of Ms Guthrie's replacement will be among Ms Buttrose's first duties in her role.

Ms Buttrose, 77, famously edited Cleo and the Australian Women’s Weekly in the 1970s and was editor-in-chief of The Daily Telegraph in the 1980s. She has recently appeared as a co-host on Nine’s Today Extra program following other hosting roles at Network Ten.

She has also been a director of News Limited and Australian Consolidated Press and was the president of the Chief Executive Women organisation.

Even after her extensive involvement with commercial TV, Ms Buttrose said the ABC does a better job of communicating with the public.

"I believe the main shareholders of the ABC are the Australian public. I have always had a very good communication with them and I think through the ABC we'll be able to continue that conversation. The ABC does it very well. It does it much better than the commercial networks," she said.

Ms Buttrose said she would not be afraid to ask for more funding for the public broadcaster if she felt it was needed.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove is likely to sign off on the appointment by next week.

Ms Buttrose will be the second woman to chair the ABC after Dame Leonie Kramer in the early 1980s.

In a statement, acting ABC managing director David Anderson welcomed Ms Buttrose’s appointment on behalf of employees.

“Ms Buttrose is an eminent Australian with vast experience as an editor and media executive. Her leadership of the ABC, a highly valued and trusted cultural institution, is welcomed,” he said.

Acting chair Kirstin Ferguson, who will continue as deputy chair, said Ms Buttrose was “one of the greats of Australian media” and widely admired.