Ita Buttrose wins backing for top ABC job

Former ABC chairman ­Donald McDonald says Ita ­Buttrose will make a “splendid ­appoint­ment”, while Greens query the process.

Opinion is divided over Ita Buttrose’s name being mentioned as future chairwoman of the ABC. Picture: Hollie Adams

Former ABC chairman ­Donald McDonald said yesterday Ita ­Buttrose would be a “splendid ­appoint­ment” to lead the ABC, while Greens and unionists questioned the selection process.

With Ms Buttrose expected to be appointed chair of the ABC within days, Mr McDonald cited her extensive media experience over five decades across publishing and broadcasting, most recently as a television personality on commercial TV networks Nine and Ten.

Asked what Ms Buttrose would bring to the role, left vacated by Justin Milne at the end of September, Mr McDonald said: “A lifetime of experience, a very considered approach to issues, I think all that experience and that judgment is what’s needed.

“She knows how organisations work. The ABC is bigger than most other organisations but she nevertheless knows how they should work, and after all as chairman, she only has to worry about that in principle not do it.

“The chairman’s most important job will be, along with the rest of the board, to choose a new managing director and I think she’s well equipped to play a leadership role in that.”

Network Ten chief executive Paul Anderson also complimented Ms Buttrose, who co-hosted the broadcaster’s morning program Studio 10 from 2013 until last April.

“Ita’s reputation speaks for ­itself — she would make a great chair at the ABC,” he said. Ms Buttrose emerged as a frontrunner for the high-profile job late on Sunday night, and Scott ­Morrison publicly sang her praises yesterday.

The Prime Minister said there were few people who had raised the standards of journalism as the former Australian Women’s Weekly editor-in-chief.

“I think that says a lot about her character and her abilities,” Mr Morrison said.

He said he had known Ms Buttrose for a long time and thought she was an “extraordinary Australian”.

But Mr Morrison said he was surprised and disappointed by the all-male shortlist.

Global recruitment firm Korn Ferry was tasked with finding the top candidates for the ABC chair, with the short-list believed to have included former Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood, former News Corp chief executive Kim Williams, Danny Gilbert from law firm Gilbert + Tobin, and Ian Robertson of law firm Holding Redlich.

Opposition communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said “the allegations of political interference at the ABC last year shocked the nation, and came on top of the Liberal government’s sustained campaign of cuts, ­attacks and complaints against the ABC”.

“Australia deserves a chairperson with a strong desire to lead and champion the ABC. This is ­essential,” Ms Rowland said.

The Greens said Ms Buttrose must be considered by the independent nomination panel before cabinet named the next ABC chair.

“Five months have passed since the government was caught in a web of political interference at the ABC. They still have not learned their lesson,” Greens media spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said. “Ita Buttrose is clearly a strong candidate for the position, however the current mess at the ABC is a result of exploiting board ­appointments. This cannot be ­allowed to continue, no matter how strong the contender.’’

The Community and Public Section Union also questioned Mr Morrison’s motive in seemingly selecting Ms Buttrose as the next chair. “In light of #chumgate and ­investigation into govt political interference at ABC — Scott Morrison is not doing Ita Buttrose, the ABC or the Australian public any good with another captain’s pick,” CPSU section secretary Sinddy Ealy said on Twitter yesterday morning.

Paul Barry, senior ABC journalist and host of its Media Watch program, was also unimpressed with the government seemingly looking to ignore the selection panel’s advice again.

“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,” Barry said on Twitter.

Mr Morrison revealed the issue of a new ABC chair had not yet been discussed in cabinet.