THE AGE http://www.theage.com.au/news/20000530/A25930-2000May29.html ABC chief blasted on independence By PETER WILMOTH MEDIA REPORTER Tuesday 30 May 2000 The chairman of the ABC, Donald McDonald, has come under fire from a newly elected deputy on the ABC board after telling her that the Federal Government's view is "important" to the board. Ramona Koval, the well-known presenter of Radio National's Books and Writing program, said she was disturbed by the comment, which had been made to her in Sydney two weeks ago. Ms Koval said Mr McDonald had told her he believed the staff's views were not the only views which should be represented on the board. He had said the views of those who tuned into the ABC needed to be heard, as did those who didn't. Ms Koval said he added: "The Government's view is important to the board." Ms Koval, elected earlier this month as deputy to the staff director on the ABC board, told The Age: "I am alarmed that the chairman of the board of the ABC, which is supposed to be independent of government, would be mindful of what the government's views were." Referring to their "cool" meeting, Ms Koval said: "I raised with him my concerns that some members of the board may not have a deep understanding of the principles of public broadcasting in their hearts. That is, that the government funds an independent public broadcaster." Lecki Ord, Victorian president of Friends of the ABC, expressed concern. "The independence of the ABC, which we believe is what differentiates it from other media, is what the Australian public wants," she said. "Clearly the board has to be mindful of any government but its charter states that it has to be independent." Mr McDonald's comment comes at a sensitive time, with the ABC board meeting tomorrow in Melbourne for the first time under new managing director Jonathan Shier. The board will discuss ways of increasing revenue, including the controversial possible strategic alliance with Telstra for the supply of ABC content for its Internet services. Mr McDonald has been accused in the past of being too close to the government of his close friend John Howard. Amid coalition claims that the ABC was biased against it in the lead-up to the 1998 federal election, Mr McDonald introduced Mr Howard at a Liberal Party lunch, saying he was "a man of high courage, he has a transparent candor, he is a proud man possessed of a true humility..." He went on to say Mr Howard was "quite without malice, he is unpractised in derision ... he is an absolute gentleman, a true patriot, a great friend". The greeting prompted some ABC staff to walk off the job and call for Mr McDonald's resignation. A Community and Public Sector Union official, Graeme Thomson, said yesterday that Mr McDonald's comment to Ms Koval "confirms fears held by the CPSU that Mr McDonald is too close to the government". Mr Thomson, the ABC's section secretary to the union, said: "It clearly shows that the chairman of the ABC doesn't see his prime role as to uphold the charter and the independence of the ABC." The charter, outlined in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act (1983), says the ABC must serve as "the provider of an independent national broadcasting service". Mr McDonald did not return calls from The Age yesterday. ************************************************************************* This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
