Scott Morrison’s cabinet has decided Ita Buttrose will lead the ABC, with an announcement likely this week. Senior government sources confirmed cabinet had chosen Ms Buttrose as the public broadcaster’s next chair, vacated by Justin Milne amid controversy at the top of the ABC’s leadership in September. Labor has criticised the process to choose the replacement ABC chair after it was revealed the independent selection panel had not considered Ms Buttrose, triggering claims of “political interference”. Mr Morrison confirmed the panel had not put forward a female candidate to government.
Once he has consulted Mr Shorten, Mr Morrison will take the nomination to Governor-General Peter Cosgrove before it is officially ratified. Mr Morrison effectively endorsed Ms Buttrose, 77, for the appointment on Monday and acknowledged he had known her for a long time. “She’s an extraordinary Australian, an Australian of the Year and there have been few people more than Ita that I think have lifted the standards of journalism in this country and I think that says a lot about her character and her abilities,” the Prime Minister told ABC TV.