Labor demands seat at selection table for ABC’s new chair

Michelle Rowland has demanded the government work with Labor on selecting the next ABC chair.

Labor communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

The opposition communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland has demanded the government work with Labor on selecting the next chair of embattled public broadcaster ABC.

“Labor expects to be genuinely consulted with reasonable notice on the appointment of the new ABC chair,” Ms Rowland said.

“Safeguarding the independence of the ABC is crucial.”

Ms Rowland said the government’s “track record on ABC independence is woeful, including their repeated disregard for the independent nomination panel process for board appointments”.

The ABC needs strong leadership following the axing of managing director Michelle Guthrie on September 24 by the board, which drew fierce criticism and subsequently led to the resignation of chairman Justin Milne a few days later. The pair had a difficult working relationship that only got worse after they left the public broadcaster.

Adding to its woes, the ABC last month admitted it had underpaid up to 2500 casual staff over the past six years, a problem that is expected to cost millions to fix.

The field appears to be narrowing for the next ABC chair, with Scott Morrison reportedly handed a shortlist of three can­didates for the role recently.

Former News Corp executive Kim Williams, former Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood, former Telstra CEO David Thodey and Danny Gilbert of law firm Gilbert + Tobin have all been widely touted as candidates to replace Mr Milne.

Citi chair and AFL commissioner Sam Mostyn has also been considered, the ABC’s Media Watch reported on Monday.

The program also reported that the selection panel finished interviewing candidates before Christmas, with a shortlist of three names going to Communications Minister Mitch Fifield two weeks ago.

Mr Thodey and Mr Gilbert were both candidates for the ABC chair last time.

Internal ABC sources also said that Sir Peter Cosgrove, the outgoing Governor-General, was a possible candidate.

A top media executive, who didn’t want to be named, said Mr Williams was an obvious hire, given his extensive media experience. News Corp is the publisher of The Australian.