ABC Friends says potential board seat for efficiency review author Peter Lewis ‘highly inappropriate’
Action group ABC Friends has said it would be “highly inappropriate” for the former chief financial officer of Seven West Media and Efficiency Review author Peter Lewis to get a place on the board of the public broadcaster.
Mumbrella revealed on Friday Lewis, who authored the recent efficiency review of both the ABC and SBS, is understood to have been shortlisted among three names given to the Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull to be put before cabinet to fill the current vacancy on the board, after putting himself forward for the role.
“It would be improper and highly inappropriate if Mr Lewis were appointed to the ABC Board,” said Glenys Stradijot, ABC Friends National spokesperson said in a statement, claiming that Lewis would have a conflict of interest.
“Mr Lewis’s appointment earlier this year to conduct the Government’s efficiency review of the ABC lacked propriety, given his recent employment has been in senior roles with media companies that are competitors of the ABC. It would be totally unacceptable for someone with such a clear conflict of interest to be appointed to the public broadcaster’s governing board.
It’s SO easy to see what is happening.This Govt is hell bent on gutting the ABC.I once thought that Turnbull had some decency.
Why is it no-one speaks up about the Abbott Government’s interference with the ABC by the appointment of Albretchsen and Brown.? What an apathetic and complacent bunch we are!
inappropriateness aside, Peter Lewis would be a great addition to the ABC Board. He is fair and smart and deeply experienced in media. Having worked with him for a number of years I would also say he has a high degree of integrity.
Three appointments in a row ALL anti ABC. Good on you Tony ABbott, you [Edited under Mumbrella’s content moderation policy]
It’s worth noting Lewis was invited to undertake the ABC/SBS efficiency review by Malcolm Turnbull. Minister Turnbull needs to explain to the public why he selected Lewis for the review, why he’s keeping it from the public eye, and who else was hired for the review who might be a potential candidate for appointment to the ABC Board. Generic claims that ‘commercial information might be compromised’ to explain refusal to make the report public no longer cut the mustard. The public is entitled to scrutinise the models used for benchmarking comparisons and ‘better practice’. These have little to do with commercial-in-confidence. We are also entitled to know who else was appointed to the review process and who made these appointment(s). How is the public interest being served by Malcolm’s secrecy? And is Lewis’ recent departure from Southern Cross Media an attempt to remove any criticism that Lewis has a conflict of interest should he be appointed to the ABC Board? Who else does Malcolm have in mind for Board appointment as it would appear he’s calling the shots.
Peter Lewis was a very successful CFO, and knows what makes a TV network efficient. You think that the ABC should never have, as a Board member, somebody who knows the organisational and cost structure necessary to run an efficient TV network at top ratings for bucks spent. Don’t forget that the ABC has universal service obligation so ratings and reach do count. It only got reach of 59% last year in TV –absolutely pathetic for a cost budget as big as any of the other networks. The ABC is not just for freeloaders who don’t want to pay for their TV and radio service, and live in Brunswick or Rozelle.
Hey, and it’s my tax payers money and I would welcome him on the Board to represent tax payers interests. Parliament is the democracy that the ABC is and should be directly accountable to, whatever the Parliaments’ persuasion. If you don’t like this answerability, privatise it.
It’s lucky taxpayers aren’t all hellbent on destruction of our socially beneficial structures. We might ask for our money back from mega roadworks we don’t drive on and port facilities we don’t buy cheap bricabrac or flat pack furniture from. Logic about benefits to all shows that organizations such as ABC give national progress not just selfish individual myopic rewards. I love ABC and trust it for information and content not skewed by a need to sell me something.
In the years I have known and worked with Peter Lewis, he has no particular political affiliation that finds its way into his work and is an absolute professional with deep expertise in TV. He keeps his own counsel on most matters and is not afraid to speak up and speak out if he has concerns on a commercial or ethical level – no matter who he is talking to. I profoundly dislike Abbott’s moves generally, but knowing who Peter is I think this particular appointment is being misread.