Janet Albrechtsen
ABC staff union slams appointment
February 25, 2005
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1274&storyid=2722016
THE union representing ABC staff today slammed Janet Albrechtsen's appointment to the national broadcaster's board, saying she had no relevant broadcasting or program-making experience.
Ms Albrechtsen, a lawyer and conservative newspaper columnist, was appointed to the board yesterday by Communications Minister Helen Coonan, despite a history of criticising the ABC.
The appointment was met with outrage by the ALP and by former Media Watch presenter David Marr, who was locked in a public battle with Ms Albrechtsen over plagiarism two years ago.
Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) ABC section secretary Graeme Thomson said Ms Albrechtsen had said she was selected on the basis of her legal skills.
"With the exception of the staff-elected director, the ABC board is made up of lawyers, accountants and people from the business community," Mr Thomson said.
"Staff and viewers are wondering why the Government doesn't appoint someone who actually knows something about broadcasting or program-making for once.
"Many also doubt the wisdom of appointing to the board someone who has consistently displayed antagonism towards the work that ABC staff perform."
Mr Thomson called for the introduction of an open and transparent system of appointments to board positions.
"These positions should be advertised and filled on merit," he said.
"That way, ministers would have to publicly justify why they made their decision."
AAP
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