ALP would keep ABC board appointments
The ALP is not interested in amending the Broadcasting Act.
The ALP's position in relation to creating an Independent ABC Board clearly emerges from the Report of the Senate Inquiry which has just been published.
Pious words but no real reforms planned.
This position was confirmed in recent discussions between Shadow Communications Minister Stephen Smith and Friends of the ABC (FABC) Central Coast Committee.
The terms of reference of the Inquiry were: "The development and implementation of options for methods of appointment to the board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that would enhance confidence in the independence and representativeness of the ABC as a national broadcaster."
The Committee of FABC Central Coast Group made a submission to the Inquiry together with 719 other groups and individuals.
The Report states: "The overwhelming view of the submissions was that the ABC has become politicised, has lost its independence, and accordingly has lost the confidence of the public."
The principal recommendation by the Chair of the Inquiry (Democrats Senator Lyn Allison) is: "that the method of Board appointments be altered to embrace a system characterised by the principles of merit and transparency, in order to deal with the widespread public perception that appointments to the ABC Board are made on the basis of political affiliation rather than on merit alone," detailed in Chapter Three.
The Committee's two Government Senators stated that "they had no case to answer," while the three ALPs Senators disassociated themselves from the Chairs recommendations and her specific model proposed.
They conclude in a Minority Report that "the most important means of ensuring the independence of the ABC is through the provision of adequate funding".
This was confirmed by Shadow Minister Stephen Smith who agreed that that the ABC "should be a truly national broadcaster, should be adequately resourced and genuinely independent".
However, he said the current Board appointments should run their full term.
Managing Director Shier would remain in position if the ALP won the election.
Smith parts company with the FABC on the question how Board appointments are to be made.
He rejected all options recently proposed by the FABC in their Updatemagazine.
Clearly, the ALP would wish to remain in control of Board appointments.
That means that they would remain part of the problem, not of its solution.
At least two members of the FABC Central Coast Group Committee remained completely unconvinced that the ALP is serious about its claims for an Independent Board.
Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach