ABC review “won’t be a witch-hunt”

Communications minister Helen Coonan has ordered an efficiency review of the ABC but promised it would not be a witch-hunt. She also said she was considering whether the public broadcaster′s board should keep its staff representative.

Senator Coonan said outside consultants would be employed by her department to assist in the review.

"We said at the election we are going to have an efficiency review," Senator Coonan told Media yesterday. "That is not a witch-hunt. This was actually sought by the ABC board. We have said that any savings identified by the efficiency review can be kept by the ABC."

Senator Coonan she said that although she was reviewing the staff position on the board, it didn′t necessarily mean she wanted the position abolished. "I think staff representation is important, but then the question is: how do you do that?" she said.

Staff representative Ramona Koval has been accused of leaking a board document to the ABC′s Media Watch.

"The ABC board seems to now be operating in a much more functional way but there may be some issues to consider in relation to how that′s all structured," Senator Coonan said.

Although there are still two vacant spots on the ABC board, Senator Coonan said she hadn′t chosen anybody as yet. "I would like to get representation for states other than NSW, Victoria and Queensland," she said. "The ABC are reviewing their complaints handling and that can feed into the new regulator, the yet-to-be-created Australian Communications and Media Authority."

Senator Coonan said she was close to appointing a chairman for ACMA. "I have somebody in mind but I am not sure that I have actually secured him yet, but it will be quite interesting, " she said.