ABC and SBS boards selection panel announced

Mark Bahnisch — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:48:44 +0000

There’s been a fair bit of discussion around here from time to time about the Rudd government’s proposals for ensuring merit based appointments to the boards of ABC and SBS, a matter of quite a deal of interest because of John Howard’s habit of appointing the most ludicrously provocative culture warriors possible. Even from the point of view of the right’s own pseudo-Gramscian (counter) march through the institutions thing, these appointments were completely counterproductive – the lack of any broadcasting experience on the part of the appointees negated their ability to scrutinise or shape management proposals. Howard, I suspect, was playing something of a double game, appointing chairs such as Donald McDonald and Maurice Newman on one hand and keeping up the “balance” pressure with appointments such as those of Ron Brunton, Janet Albrechtsen and Keith Windschuttle. The resulting ire also helped maintain Howard’s cred with the culture wars commentariat.

Labor promised last year to eschew political appointments, and introduce a selection panel at arms length from the Communications Minister. The final appointment would still be ministerial, but any appointment not recommended by the panel would have to be justified and the justification tabled in parliament. The procedure is outlined here. Ex pollies and senior political advisors are banned from appointment.

There are now two vacancies on the boards of both ABC and SBS, and the panel has been announced (note that it hasn’t been appointed by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy but by PMC Secretary Terry Moran). By the way, you’re reading about this first on LP – it hasn’t been picked up in the media yet. The panel is:

Mr Ric Smith AO PSM has been appointed to chair the Nomination Panel for a period of three years. Mr Smith was Secretary of the Department of Defence from 2002 to 2006 and had previously served as Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia and to the People’s Republic of China.

Professor Allan Fels AO has been appointed as a member for a period of three years. Professor Fels is currently Dean of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. He was Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission from 1995 until 30 June 2003.

Ms Leneen Forde AC has been appointed as a member for a period of two years. Ms Forde has been Chancellor of Griffith University since 2000 and was Governor of Queensland from 1992 to 1997.

Mr David Gonski AC has been appointed as a member for a period of two years. Mr Gonski has been Chancellor of the University of New South Wales since 2005 and is chairman and director of a number of major companies. He was Chairman of the Australia Council from 2002 to 2005.

Stephen Conroy has also announced that the position of staff elected Director will be restored to the ABC Board.

Concurrently with this process, there’s also a discussion paper on the future of the two public broadcasters – available here. When I have a little more time, I’ll take a look at it and write something. In the meantime, it’s very good to see a merit based process for board appointments put in place.

Larvatus Prodeo » abc board

ABC and SBS boards selection panel announced