Scott Morrison praises Ita Buttrose ahead of Cabinet decision over new chair of ABC

Scott Morrison says few people have lifted the standards of journalism as Ita Buttrose with speculation mounting she will succeed Justin Milne.

Scott Morrison says there are few people who have lifted the standards of journalism as former Australian Women’s Weekly editor Ita Buttrose, as speculation mounts she will become the next chair of the ABC.

The Prime Minister said the issue had not yet been discussed in cabinet but confirmed a shortlist of candidates by an independent panel did not include a single woman.

“Cabinet will soon consider this matter. It is true that she was not one of those who had been independently recommended,” Mr Morrison told ABC radio.

“I can confirm that the independent recommendations did not include a female candidate. None at all.”

Mr Morrison said he was surprised and disappointed by the all-male shortlist. He also told the ABC he had known Ms Buttrose for a long time and thinks she is an “extraordinary Australian”.

“There have been few people more than Ita that I think have lifted the standards of journalism in this country and I think that says a lot about her character and her abilities,” Mr Morrison said.

A decision could be announced as early as this week with Communications Minister Mitch Fifield expected to take his recommendation to a cabinet meeting as early as tomorrow. All short-listed recommendations, made after an extensive search by global recruitment firm Korn Ferry, are believed to have been rejected. Former Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood and former News Corp chief executive Kim Williams were believed to be on the shortlist.

The appointment of the 77-year-old would bring to a close a troubled period for the public broadcaster following the rancorous exits six months ago of then-chair Justin Milne and managing director Michelle Guthrie, who was appointed by the government in 2016 despite not being a short-listed candidate.

The Australian revealed online last night that Ms Buttrose had emerged as a serious contender.

Ms Buttrose, 77, would only be the second woman to take the top job at the public broadcaster after Dame Leonie Kramer in the early 1980s. She was most recently a panellist on the Ten Network morning program Studio 10, but made her name as a trailblazing editor of Cleo and The Australian Women’s Weekly in the 1970s .

The possibility of Ms Buttrose leapfrog the recommendations of the panel has raised the ire of Paul Barry, host of ABC’s Media Watch.

“Seriously? Is the government really going to ignore the selection panel’s advice AGAIN and appoint Ita Buttrose to ABC chair, when she’s not even on the short list,” he tweeted.

“Ita Buttrose was NOT on headhunter Korn Ferry’s list for #abcchair, NOT considered by the official selection panel, and NOT on the panel’s shortlist of 3. Go figure.’’

Ita Buttrose was NOTon headhunter Korn Ferry's list for #abcchair, NOTconsidered by the official selection panel, and NOT on the panel's shortlist of 3. Go figure. #mediawatch

— Paul Barry (@TheRealPBarry) February 24, 2019

Labor communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said under the legislation that guides the ABC, the opposition must be consulted on the appointment of the broadcaster’s chair and it has not been yet.

“That consultation should be genuine,” she said.

With AAP