Government to launch inquiry into interference at the ABC
The minister for communications and the arts, Mitch Fifield, has gone back on his earlier statement implying he would not get involved in the crisis engulfing the national broadcaster the ABC, and announced his department will undertake an inquiry into the allegations against current chairman Justin Milne.
Fifield said the truth – relating to allegations Milne pressured recently ousted managing director Michelle Guthrie to sack ABC journalist Emma Alberici after complaints from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull – needed to be uncovered.
Fifield: The community must have confidence in the ABC
To save time, I offer an exec summary:
Minister, we find that the whole debacle was in the PM’s decision to appoint his former Ozemail mate as Chair and his buddy (Bruce McWilliam’s mate) as CEO.
Our advice is that governments consider appointing a board with some knowledge of what the ABC does, preferably first hand knowledge.
It would also be helpful if a CEO was appointed who has some experience in managing organisations that actually manage content, preferably including journalism. (Ref: Johns, B)
It would appear that Watcher didn’t work at the ABC at the time that Brian Johns was MD!
True. But she did see the result of his work, which remains miles ahead of today’s output.
The best part of this article is that it seems you now have put the actual name of the PM in brackets after using the title Prime Minister just to clarify who you’re referring to.
You are not the PM yet, but there’s still time.
To clarify, it was me who added in ScoMo’s name, not Mitch Fifield… but I did genuinely believe it was necessary considering former PM Malcolm Turnbull is tied up in all this.
I am very pleased you noticed.
Vivienne – Mumbrella