As speculation grows on who might replace ABA chief, David Flint, when his term expires in October, the Board faces even greater upheaval, with almost half the members to be gone within a two month period.

First to go will be part time member, Ian Robertson, whose four year term expires on 10 August. He is Managing Partner of the Sydney office of law, firm, Holding Redlich, and an advisory board member of the Media and Telecommunications Policy Group at RMIT.

Professor Flint’s term ends on 4 October, while the only full time member, Michael Gordon-Smith, finishes up on 14 September.

Numerous names are being put forward as possible successors to David Flint but, among the many contenders, some might also find themselves in the running for other key ABA Board positions.

These include Gordon-Smith; Jock Given, author and Swinburne University media researcher; Dr Bob Horton, ABA Board Associate Member and Acting Australian Communications Authority Chairman; Kerrie Henderson, ethics’ specialist and previous Board member; Bob Scott, former ABA Deputy Chairman, FARB President and 2Day-FM/TripleM GM; Lyn Maddock, ABA Deputy Chair; Debra Richards, head of pay TV lobbying group, ASTRA; and Malcolm Long, ABA Board part time member.

As the Prime Minister considers the advice he sought over the Flint/Jones letters, speculation is also mounting that he might force a decision on a plan to merge the ABA with the ACA. This has been on the Government’s agenda since last year.

If the PM calls an August or September election and loses, the job of finding a replacement would go to Labor. But, if the Government were to announce the merger of the bodies now, it could force Flint’s retirement and choose a head of the new body for up to five years.

In the event of a merger, Gordon-Smith is considered a frontrunner to head a new broadcasting/communications body.