MEDIA RELEASE 17 June 2004 – for immediate release
Attention: Chief of Staff

Will another ‘Usual Suspect’ replace Mr Newman on the ABC Board?

Following the resignation of Mr Maurice Newman from the ABC Board, Friends of the ABC have once again called on the government to reform the process by which appointments to this body are made.

Friends of the ABC spokesperson Margaret O’Connor today said:

“ Our problem is with the political balance on the ABC Board and with the appointment process. The ABC has been the subject of continual and unsubstantiated accusations of bias from ex-Communications Minister Alston and other Liberal politicians. But in relation to the selection of ABC Board members, how does the Government measure up when the bias-o-meter is applied?”
“ Unfortunately, the Government fails the balance test. The usual conservative suspects are appointed time after time, the most recent being Dr Rod Brunton, formerly of the Institute of Public Affairs. This organisation has been a fierce critic of the ABC. Any ABC producer who chose the government appointed members of the ABC Board as the panel for a current affairs discussion would be quickly found guilty of bias”

“Not only does the government appoint the usual suspects, but the process itself is also suspect. It happens secretly, and without any apparent relationship to the qualifications required to run a public broadcaster. It is time that the government followed the example of that of the UK and implemented an open, transparent and non-partisan method of finding qualified people to run the ABC. The Australian community deserves no less.”

“ The Friends of the ABC have been advocating such a Board appointment method for some time and have been pleased to note the ALP’s endorsement of this policy. With Mr Newman’s resignation, here is an opportunity for the Government to replace him with a non partisan ABC Board appointment.”

For more information call Margaret O’Connor on 0422 975 848 or email on margoforte@hotmail.com.