Finally, the government has appointed someone who actually understands broadcasting to the leadership of the ABC.
In the same breath, however, Albanese has appointed the outstanding Kim Williams to the wrong job at the national broadcaster.
He’s got the job of Chair of the Board replacing outgoing Chair, Ita Buttrose. In my opinion, he should have taken the job of Managing Director. Perhaps he can, in time, appoint himself Executive Chair and save taxpayers some hard-earned money in the bargain…
Williams has demonstrated, over his extensive media career, that he intrinsically understands broadcast media – especially the critically important digital and streaming platforms. He’s also demonstrated he’s a ‘hands-on’ leader who is likely to find the role as Chair somewhat limiting.
Williams’ professional experience spans leading roles at News Corp Australia (albeit brief), Fox Studios, Foxtel, Southern Star Entertainment, and the Australian Film Commission.
He also concurrently holds several Chair roles in the private and public sectors.
Last year, Buttrose reappointed the incumbent MD, David Anderson, for a second five-year term – but inexplicably overlooked to mention this to the taxpayers of Australia for fully four months after it had occurred. She was rightly heavily criticised for doing so.
Board practices of this kind raise legitimate questions about governance and transparency. The latter is central to healthy board decision-making – but especially in public institutions such as the national broadcaster – costing the nation in excess of $1 billion annually.
The ABC frequently extols the need for transparency on its news and current affairs platforms and yet appears reluctant to follow what it preaches when it comes to ‘internal’ matters.
The year has started badly for the national broadcaster and its leadership. Just last week, ABC union members passed a vote of no confidence in Anderson, after the broadcaster defended itself in the Fair Work Commission against a claim by now departed journalist Antoinette Lattouf that she was sacked unlawfully.
There has been an ongoing disquiet inside (and outside) the ABC about the coverage of the war between Hamas and Israel.
The Board held an ‘emergency’ meeting about the matter – but typically little or no information has emerged from the meeting.
This said, there are some encouraging signs from Williams before he’s started in his role.
On the important subject of ‘public scrutiny’ Williams said refreshingly, ‘I’m not averse to scrutiny. In fact, I think scrutiny is part and parcel of things that matter.’ Of the ABC he said, ‘It’s a public institution and it’s accountable to the public.’
It would be hard to apportion these sentiments to the current leadership of the ABC.
For years it’s been widely known the ABC repudiates questions coming to it from either the public or from Senate Estimates on its operations, decision-making processes, and most importantly on questions of fair and balanced reporting.
Statements from the ABC are renowned for their preference to ‘block’ rather than ‘facilitate’ openness and accountability.
Williams’ appointment may – just may – see a badly needed ‘new broom’ through the organisation – which many would agree is long overdue. He wants to see the ABC shift its attention from its obsessive internal focus to the external environment where its attention should correctly be.
It’s a shame Williams will be pushing the broom from the Boardroom and not from the office of Managing Director.
John Simpson, Company Director, Member of Council – Monash University
