The shortlist is believed to have included Gilbert+Tobin managing partner Danny Gilbert, former Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood, former News Corp Australia chief executive Kim Williams and Holding Redlich national managing partner Ian Robertson.
This followed an extensive months-long global search by recruitment firm Korn Ferry. Candidates were required to name a handful of referees who were also subjected to 30-minute phone interviews.
“I can confirm that the independent recommendations did not include a female candidate. None at all,” Mr Morrison said with surprise on ABC Radio.
“Cabinet will soon consider this matter. It is true that [Ms Buttrose] was not one of those who had been independently recommended.”
A number of female candidates had made the long list and were interviewed by the nominations panel before it made its recommendations to the government.
Sources said it was often standard practice in corporate and government appointments to require a female candidate be shortlisted. The Australian Institute of Company Directors has previously called on boards to develop short and long lists where women comprise 50 per cent. The government makes all appointments to the ABC board.
Korn Ferry declined to comment.
“The government is undertaking a process to appoint the ABC chair,” a government spokesperson said. An announcement will be made in due course.”
Earlier this month Ms Buttrose said she had been not contacted about the role. Ms Buttrose was unable to be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Mr Morrison and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield took Ms Buttrose’s name to cabinet on Tuesday for likely confirmation, although there is expected to be debate over other potential candidates.
Ms Buttrose has largely been applauded as a potential ABC chairman and meets the selection criteria for the appointment of non-executive directors at the public broadcaster, set out in a determination by then-communications minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2013. However, the government has already been heavily criticised for appearing to again ignore the nominations panel.
The Prime Minister does not need to make the appointment from the shortlist. However, there is much frustration the government appears to have ignored to panel’s advice again, especially given the controversy surrounding the previous chairman Justin Milne.
Given accusations of political interference, which forced Mr Milne to resign, there had been expectations the government would follow the formal process. Mr Milne was not on the shortlist of candidates given to the government last time around before he was appointed by then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The government will be required by law to outline why Ms Buttrose is given the role, if indeed she is named, in the House of Representatives 15 sitting days after the appointment is made. It will need to include an assessment of the new chairman against the selection criteria.
The ABC began its search for a new MD a little more than a week ago, with executive search firm Spencer Stuart undertaking a global search. Acting ABC MD David Anderson is considered a favourite to get the role.
from Just News Viral https://ift.tt/2SsSjl1
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