It is interesting to ponder the thoughts of the Prime Minister before he decided to make a captain’s call by appointing Ita Buttrose as Chair of the ABC Board. In doing so he has confounded critics and perhaps even signalled some remorse for the Federal Government’s continuous assault on Australian public broadcasting.
He has ignored the job search agency, which considered the aspirations of many male hopefuls, dismissed the recommendations of the Nominations Panel and instead installed a well-known Australian woman whose appointment has attracted few objections.
Ms Buttrose is a generally popular choice. Her six decade media career has attracted praise for the way she challenged the barriers of gender stereotyping to achieve prominence at a time when few women did. She certainly has an impressive background in journalism and a capacity to communicate with the Australian community.
In choosing such a familiar and respected individual to lead the ABC, Scott Morrison has considered several constituencies he needed to reassure before the Federal Election. He knows inner city Liberals are worried about the way he and two former recent leaders have overseen devastating government financial cutbacks and constant undermining of the national broadcaster.
He recognises his National Party colleagues want to protect regional services because their constituents depend on the ABC for information, entertainment and timely emergency warnings. And of course all Government members understand that the issue of privatisation promoted by the Institute of Public Affairs and accepted by the Liberal Party National Council has disturbed those Australians who may otherwise be regarded as conservative voters.
So can the Prime Minister retrieve the support of those Australians who rely on and trust the ABC?
Certainly the early comments from Ms Buttrose suggest that she may already understand she has a major task ahead to restore the ABC’s budget and capacity to fully meet its Charter obligations. She cannot achieve reform without strong support.
Ms Buttrose needs a new Managing Director totally committed to public broadcasting and skilled in managing a complex media landscape.
Ms Buttrose also will want to work with a government that values the ABC and is prepared to put time, energy and resources into visionary communications policy that will enrich the potential of the ABC, both for Australians and to communicate to our region. She can expect cooperation from government, but total independence in how the ABC reflects its priorities.
As shareholders of the ABC we also need a parliament that will monitor the actions of government to protect public broadcasting, which is so fundamental to effective democracy.
It is too early to predict how Ms Buttrose will assert her leadership role, but we do know that many Australians will want to see major reform in how it is treated by the next Federal Government
We will be watching for real policy commitments that will not be quickly forgotten by the incoming administration.
Margaret Reynolds is the National President of the ABC Friends National.
Margaret Reynolds has a long commitment to the peace movement dating back to the Anti-Vietnam Moratorium to current advocacy against militarism as National President of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.(Australia )
She was a Labor Senator for Queensland 1983-1999 and a member of Bob Hawke’s Ministry 1987-1990. She taught Human Rights and International Relations at University of Queensland 1999-2004 and has worked with a number of international non-government organisations.
Comments
6 responses to “MARGARET REYNOLDS. Ita, the new ABC Chair”
A small step in the correct direction. I agree that who becomes the managing director and also future board appointments will truly show a governments’ intent.
“Originally published as ‘Ita leads revolt against Julia’” in the Herald Sun
Someone else posted the original on twitter somewhere….
The neo liberal idea for endeavours that have been opponents of the PTB is to starve them into silence. This is how they get to privatise so many what originally were run by governments organisations. So every cent taken off the ABC budget since Abbott reneged on his promise to not cut the ABC budget needs to be reinstated, probably more, so there are funds available to undo the cuts effects.
Sorry to be cynical but a report on 4 March in The Australian does encourage the sentiment. Apparently, Ita Buttrose went to Dover Heights Home Science High School with Scott Morrison’s mother, Marion Smith.
Perhaps Mr Morrison did also consider the rural constituency which, I agree, relies on the ABC. When I was on the ABC Advisory Council, the rural member was a fervent defender of the broadcaster, despite her generally conservative bent.
And, yes, it is — assuming Ms Buttrose follows correct governance principles — the managing director who will be crucial to steering the ABC through the media and political landscape.
Margaret: Hello dear friend. I like to think that you and Ita will take us into a good old-fashioned recognition of the real role of the ABC: the information base of thinking Australia. Go girls, Happy International Womens Day Friday
You Old Charmer Ted Egan!