Ita Buttrose blasts ‘abhorrent’ claims ABC MD has lost confidence of staff
ABC chair Ita Buttrose has come out swinging against claims that its managing director does not support the public broadcaster’s journalists.
Earlier this week, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) claimed that ABC staff “have lost confidence” in David Anderson, after union members at the public broadcaster passed a vote of no confidence in the MD.
The MEAA said the vote was passed “overwhelmingly” at an online meeting attended by over 200 members, who believe Anderson has failed “to defend the integrity of the ABC and its staff from outside attacks”.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Buttrose said the ABC board passed a unanimous vote of confidence in Anderson.
“It is abhorrent and incorrect that people would suggest that he has shown a lack of support for independent journalism and journalists,” the statement reads.
“David Anderson has always been a strong supporter of the independence of the ABC and its journalists. He has encouraged them to report without fear or favour and has never weakly surrendered to criticism as some critics have alleged.
“The ABC regularly receives, and responds to, complaints from individuals or organisations and the assumption that either the managing director as editor-in-chief or I would be influenced by any sort of lobbying pressure is quite simply wrong.”
Buttrose’s statement comes after it was revealed that ABC is looking to have Antoinette Lattouf’s unlawful termination case dismissed on the basis that it did not terminate her employment.
Lattouf’s lawyer Josh Bornstein was advised by the public broadcaster on January 18 that Lattouf was not entitled to make an unlawful termination application to the Fair Work Commission as she had not been sacked.
Meanwhile, last November, staff at triple j faced disciplinary action over a pro-Palestine monologue from hip hop artist Miss Kaninna, following an investigation from the ABC Ombudsman.
In response to the MEAA’s comments, Anderson confirmed he plans to meet with staff “in the coming weeks”.
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Neil Griffiths is the editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
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