Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the choice in Canberra on Wednesday morning.

The government will recommend that Williams replace outgoing chair Ita Buttrose, who did not seek a new term when hers expires in March.

“We can’t take what the ABC is for granted. We need to cherish it and nurture it. It needs the right leadership and that leadership needs to come from a figure of trust, talent and experience. Someone who is as multifacetted as the national broadcaster,” Albanese said.

“Kim is such a perfect fit for the role, it’s almost as if he were made for it.”

Albanese also paid tribute to Buttrose, who he described as a “champion”.

“She has shown steady leadership for five years as she has maintained a strong defence of the ABC’s independence,” he said.

“She was the right chair for the right time and we wish her well in all her future endeavours.”

The recommendation also has the backing of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Governor-General David Hurley will make the final decision on the appointment.

Williams is also a former ABC executive, and has been chief executive of News Ltd (before it became News Corp), Foxtel, Fox Studios Australia, the Australian Film Commission, Southern Star Entertainment and Music Viva Australia. He has also held numerous board positions across arts and media, and is a former AFL commissioner

His appointment comes at a turbulent time for the national broadcaster, as it negotiates an unfair dismissal case launched by one-time radio host Antoinette Lattouf.

The Lebanese-Australian journalist claims she was fired three-days into a five-day role over a Human Rights Watch post she shared on social media on December 19 about Israel “using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war in Gaza”.

The ABC said the post breached an order not to share her views on “matters of controversy”. It has denied Lattouf’s race or political opinion influenced the decision.

It has also since amended its defence at Fair Work Australia, denying Lattouf was sacked.

The ABC board held an emergency meeting on Tuesday after an unprecedented vote by staff expressing no confidence in managing director David Anderson, amid concerns lobbying by outside influences led to Lattouf being let go.

The board rejected those allegations on Tuesday. In a statement, Buttrose said it had unanimously voted to express its 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,” she said.

“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.”

Buttrose said the ABC regularly received and responded to complaints.

“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,” she said.

“The board, including the managing director, recognise that this is a very difficult environment for our staff with many societal issues that threaten to divide us. We will continue to prioritise actions that support our staff, ensure our journalistic independence, and protect the trust that Australians place in the ABC.”

On Wednesday, Albanese said the government had full confidence in Buttrose and Anderson. He refused to comment on the Lattouf dispute, which remains before FWA after mediation failed last week.

“We will not be interfering in that process. We will let that run its course,” he said.

Asked about employees’ concerns about the direction of the national broadcaster, Albanese said the ABC had “been forthright in ensuring that its journalists have support, [and it] continues to improve itself with regards for support for its workforce”.

“I think at the core of all journalism at the ABC is the imperative of
being absolutely verifiably independent, offering at all times true journalistic integrity and – to the extent possible in human affairs – having an aspiration to freedom from bias,” he said.

– TND

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