APPOINTING THE ABC BOARD

The Friends of the ABC believe that the appointment of the ABC Board has become politicised. This has weakened public confidence in the ABC Board, as well as public confidence in the political process generally. We believe that there should be legislation to provide a new method of appointing the ABC Board that will ensure that the appointment process is open, transparent and bipartisan.

Who says that the appointment process has been abused?

The coalition
Senator Alston promised a Coalition government would not allow "hacks" from either side of politics on the board - a rejection of what he saw as Labor's "politicisation" of the board. AFR 19 January 1996

The ALP
Such has been the sustained financial and political attack on the ABC by the government that, regrettably, a perception is now afoot in the community that the Managing Director of the ABC, Mr Shier, and, to a lesser extent, the board, are now nothing but the advertent or inadvertent agents of the government.
Mr Stephen Smith, House of Representatives Hansard, 6 December 2000

The Democrats
For nearly two decades, governments from both major parties have placed their mates at the helm of the ABC. We think it's time to stop this practice.
Media release issued by Senator Vicki Bourne's office 31 May 2001

Former ABC Chairmen
It is time to change the way directors are appointed to the ABC board. The current system is flawed.

The protests about a second term for Donald McDonald as chair show public distrust of the system, under which federal cabinet has complete freedom to put whom it wants on the board. The cabinet should not have that much power. A cabinet, Coalition or Labor, can be seen as a committee of the Australians who are hostile to the ABC.

Professor Mark Armstrong, former ABC Chairman, The Australian, 26 June, 2001

ALTERNATIVES
Friends of the ABC believe that appointments to the ABC Board should follow the example set by the Conservative government of John Major, in the UK, and followed by the Blair Labour Government. This system, sometimes known as the Nolan Rules, provides for:

• The establishment of appropriate selection criteria for each vacancy, to ensure that there is an appropirate mix of skills and experience on the board.
• Public advertisement of all vacancies.
• Shortlisting of applicants by an independent assessment committee.
• Appointment by the Minister, following the shortlisting process.