2018-09-28
The Government’s ABC acting chair appointment is not going to give the broadcaster the fresh start it needs, the Greens say.
“The ABC Board needs a fresh start, not a game of musical chairs,” Greens media spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“The Minister has stacked the board with Government mates, undermined the ABC’s independence and this week’s turmoil is his failure.
“The Government, who has appointed board members without due process, has done the wrong thing by the ABC and its owners – the Australian people. The Communications Minister is clearly implicated in this turmoil.
“A strong, independent media is critical to a healthy democracy and in Australia we know that our public broadcaster is vital in providing this strength. We need a genuine, transparent cross party process to make sure the ABC is governed by people who are truly independent and non-partisan.
“We need people who care about good governance and know a thing or two about good journalism - not more Minister’s mates.
“The Coalition Government is crippling the ABC by giving itself licence to interfere. The board needs to go, and the Minister responsible needs to be accountable for these failures.
“The ABC staff, and the Australian people, deserve better than this blatant political interference.
“The Government’s departmental review into itself is useless and we look forward to asking the tough questions at the Senate Inquiry.”