Scott Morrison says he will nominate Dr Kirstin Ferguson to be the ABC’s acting chair, after a week of unprecedented chaos at the national broadcaster.
Mr Morrison said he wanted Dr Ferguson to be the ABC’s deputy chair.
“Should the Governor-General accept that recommendation then she [Ferguson] will also be in the position of acting chair of the ABC until such time as a new chair appointment is made through the normal process,” he said.
Dr Ferguson has sat on the ABC board since 2015, and is an experienced director with 10 years’ experience on the ASX100 and ASX200 boards as well as private company and government boards.
She was the creator of the social media campaign #CelebratingWomen, which saw her nominated for the Walkley Foundation’s Our Watch Award for best use of social media.
Senior ABC staff have begun questioning the corporation’s board after managing director Michelle Guthrie was sacked on Monday, and chairman Justin Milne resigned on Thursday.
“I think it is important for the ABC to restore normal transmission as quickly as possible,” Mr Morrison said.
“There are vacancies and appointments to be made, but it is important that the ABC gets back to work,” he said.
Radio National presenter Patricia Karvelas said Dr Ferguson told her: “[It’s] a massive responsibility but I just love the ABC so much, I am just honoured to take it on.”
