Ita Buttrose defends ABC against bias claims, promises ‘proper stable management’
Former ABC chair David Hill has applauded Ita Buttrose’s appointment, appalled a woman wasn’t on the all-male short-list.
Former ABC chairman David Hill says newly appointed ABC chair Ita Buttrose will do a great job leading the public broadcaster, citing her extensive media experience.
“I think she’s got all the qualifications for the job,” Mr Hill told The Australian after Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed her appointment, despite not being on the all-male short list.
“She’s got to do more than protect and defend the ABC, she’s got to be their champion, and I’m sure she will.”
Mr Hill said it is “appalling that the independent panel and the international headhunters Korn Ferry put a short list together, and didn’t have a woman on it.
“I mean in this day and age to say that there’s no suitable woman to be a on shortlist of candidates is just totally unacceptable.
“I’m even forgiving the government for intervening and coming up with Ita Buttrose independent of the process,” Mr Hill said.
“It’s time to get ABC functioning again”
Earlier, Ms Buttrose defended the public broadcaster against accusations of bias and promised “proper stable management.”
The former editor of Cleo, The Australian Women’s Weekly, and News Corp’s The Sunday Telegraph and The Daily Telegraph was finally announced ABC chairman by the Prime Minister this morning after months of speculation over who would fill the role.
After sign-off from the Governor-General, Scott Morrison’s “captain’s pick’’ will become only the second woman in the broadcaster’s 87-year history to have the role.
She takes over a public broadcaster shaken by the resignation of her predecessor Justin Milne last year amid accusations of political interference, and the ongoing legal battle between the ABC and sacked former managing director Michelle Guthrie.
.@ItaButtrose on being appointed as ABC Chair: If I think there is a need for more funding for the ABC, I won't be afraid to ask for it.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 27, 2019
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Ms Buttrose, 77, said while there was always “room for improvement”, a majority of Australians did not support the view that the ABC was biased.
Standing next to Mr Morrison in Sydney she said she would not be frightened by politicians complaining about her ABC.
“Eighty per cent of Australians say we’re unbiased. Eighty per cent of Australians say they trust our news more than any trust any other kind of information. So we must be doing something right,” she said.
“Look, there’s always room for improvement. I’d listen and I want you to know that, you know, I’m sure — It’s not only the ABC that gets complaints from politicians. I have copped plenty of complaints from politicians in previous roles especially when I was editor-in-chief at News Limited.”
Ms Buttrose vowed to fight for the ABC’s independence. “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.
Ms Buttrose said her first priority was to select a new managing director — with applications closing tomorrow — and reassuring staff that the turmoil of the past six months was over.
“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,” she said.
“If there’s not a close relationship between the chair and the managing director, you cannot make an organisation work efficiently and well.”
David Anderson has been interim MD since her axing and has publicly said he wants the role permanently.
Mr Anderson said Ms Buttrose would provide valuable strategic leadership at an important time for the ABC. “Ms Buttrose is an eminent Australian with vast experience as an editor and media executive,’’ he said. “Her leadership of the ABC, a highly valued and trusted cultural institution, is welcomed.
“In an era of globalised commercial media, a strong independent ABC is vital. We remain committed to outstanding news and current affairs, hosting conversations that inform the public, and delivering compelling content that is distinctive, high-quality and Australian.”
Acting chair Kirstin Ferguson, who will continue as deputy chair, was also highly complimentary of Ms Buttrose. “Ita Buttrose is one of the greats of Australian media — and an iconic, widely admired Australian.
“She will bring valuable experience to the ABC Board at a time when we will need to make significant strategic and leadership decisions, including the appointment of the new managing director, in coming months,” Ms Ferguson said.
The Prime Minister said Ms Buttrose would “put viewers first” as ABC chairman and defended his decision to select her despite the fact she was not on a shortlist drawn up by an independent panel.
“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,” he said.
“It’s about their viewers, it’s about their listeners, it’s about their readers, and the services they provide to Australians.
“The Labor Party set up a process, we follow that process, but where I don’t believe that process actually meets the requirements, then the government of the day has the ability to make the right appointment and that’s what I have done today.’’
.@ItaButtrose on her role as ABC Chair: My most important role is to restore stability to the management of the organisation, to reassure the staff
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 27, 2019
that life will go on as usual.
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Labor sources say Bill Shorten was only informed of Mr Morrison’s decision in a short phone conversation with the Prime Minister at 8.15am this morning, and he was not consulted at all despite a federal election looming in three months’ time.
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance urged her to take immediate action “to protect, maintain and reinvigorate public broadcasting in Australia”.
MEAA chief executive Paul Murphy said Ms Buttrose and the future managing director must be “prepared to fight for better funding and independence of the ABC, and to champion public broadcasting in a hostile political environment.”
“The past three years at the ABC will be remembered for historically low levels of funding culminating in losing $350 million in funding under the current government, hundreds of redundancies, unprecedented political attacks on the ABC’s independence and low staff morale,’’ Mr Murphy said
“They must restore the trust and confidence of staff by ending the Hunger Games processes, the casualisation of the workforce and outsourcing that, in four years, has seen more than 1000 experienced workers leave the organisation.”
While it noted her decades of media experience — “unlike most members of the ABC board’’ — the MEAA said it had “misgivings over the process that was once again bypassed in securing her appointment’’.
Kim Portrate, CEO of industry trade group ThinkTV, said Ms Buttrose’s appointment is “fantastic”.
“She’s incredibly accomplished, both as a businesswoman and a member of the media community,” Ms Portrate told The Australian.
“She’s a brilliant woman who has been trailblazing her entire career, I think she’s incredible.”
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