Ex-Liberal Party state president, Michael Kroger’s term on the ABC Board expires on 5th February and a range of former Liberal names have been mooted as replacements.

“To date, without exception, the Government has appointed to the Board people who are perceived to be aligned to the Government,” says Friends of the ABC spokesperson Elisabeth McClement.

In an effort to draw attention to “the need for a new Board appointment process,” Friends of the ABC staged protest actions across Australia last weekend.

The ‘Whose ABC protests’ will took place outside ABC studios in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney on the morning of Monday 27the January, with possible further protests being planned in other cities.

“It is contrary to the public¹s interests for the ABC to be controlled by any political party. The nation expects its national broadcaster to be fearlessly independent.”

“At this time, when the ABC is negotiating its next round of triennial funding, the ABC needs a Board which will stand up and insist the broadcaster be well-funded to fulfil its Charter obligations,” according to McClement.

Friends of the ABC believe that a new system of Board appointments should be introduced, which will “ensure governments of all political persuasions appoint people who will act in the best interests of independent and comprehensive public broadcasting.”