ABC Board Appointments, Michael Kroger

Lindsay Tanner - Shadow Minister for Communications

Radio Interview

Transcript - ABC Radio National - 9 May 2002

E & OE - PROOF ONLY

Tanner: Michael Kroger's inappropriate intervention on behalf of his friend Alan Jones over last Monday's Four Corners Program has again brought into focus the vexed issue of the politicisation of ABC board appointments by the Government.

Mr Kroger's actions were utterly inappropriate. Mr Kroger is an undisputed Liberal Party powerbroker. He is a close friend of Federal Treasurer Peter Costello and a former Victorian Liberal Party President. Alan Jones is also closely associated with the Liberal Party as a close friend of the Prime Minister, former speechwriter to Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and a former Liberal Party candidate. It is widely acknowledged that Alan Jones's commentary on 2UE prior to both the 1998 and 2001 federal elections overwhelmingly favoured the Coalition.

Mr Kroger said on camera to Chris Masters, "I think a show on Alan Jones should be more positive than negative". He is reported to have also raised the matter at Board level. That Mr Kroger does not realise how inappropriate his comments are as an ABC Board Member with Liberal Party affiliations is extraordinary.

Michael Kroger and Chris Masters have since had a public argument about the extent to which Michael Kroger may have attempted to exert influence over the Four Corners program on Alan Jones. Without knowing the full facts of the matter what I will say is this. The ABC should investigate Chris Masters' allegations fully and independently. If these allegations are substantiated Mr Kroger should resign.

On Tuesday Mr Kroger launched a wild attack on the ABC's independence and accused it of being biased against John Howard and his Government. How on earth can Mr Kroger have an objective opinion on this matter given his status as a Liberal Party powerbroker?

Mr Kroger's irresponsible and inaccurate statements were emphatically rejected on the same day by Max Uechtritz the Director of ABC News & Current Affairs. Mr Uechtritz pointed out that "the ABC is subject to the most rigorous set of publicly available editorial policies of any media organisation in Australia". He also drew attention to the recent report by the National Audit Office, which found that "the ABC's News and Current Affairs Division has effective procedures and practices in operation that assist it to deliver news and current affairs programs that reflect the Charter requirements of independence, accuracy and impartiality."

An independent ABC is vital to the effective functioning of our democracy. It is absolutely critical that the ABC is run without interference from the Government of the day or its agents. The ABC has in the past run stories that have been critical of both the Labor and Liberal side of politics. And that is how it should be.

After the Jonathan Shier debacle it is critical that the ABC rise above the perception that some of its board members are being driven by the political agenda of the Howard Government.

During the furore over Mr Kroger's activities, I have announced that during Labor's policy review process we will consider methods of ensuring that the ABC Board appointment process is reformed. We want to prevent the future appointment of political stooges to the ABC Board. This is a genuine commitment on my behalf and represents an important turning point in the debate about the ABC. Labor recognises that the current board appointment methods are inadequate and need major reform.

There are several models that offer some guidance on ensuring that Board members are appointed on merit rather than political affiliation. The 'Nolan Rules' in the UK are considered by many commentators to represent a way forward. The BBC have a code of practice for Board appointments based on principles of ministerial responsibility, merit, independent scrutiny, equal opportunity, probity, openness and transparency, and proportionality.

In regard to the ABC, there certainly is room for greater detail and transparency in selection criteria and selection processes. However, any reforms to the selection process should ensure that high quality candidates are not discouraged from applying by unduly intensive public scrutiny.

Last year a Senate Committee developed a report on these matters, titled Above Board. The ABC Board, the Minister and his Department chose not to give evidence to that inquiry making it impossible for the report to deliver a majority position. Nevertheless it contained some useful food for thought.

I think Michael Kroger's actions have reignited the debate about the ABC Board and will force legislators to take a fresh look at ABC Board appointment processes.

As the saying goes it's your ABC. The ABC belongs to all Australians and should not be the plaything of political parties. So let the debate begin afresh. The ABC cannot withstand too many more Michael Krogers or Jonathan Shiers.

Ends