A Modest Proposal to Fix the ABC

Jim Spigelman and fellow members of the ABC Board must have been very pleased to see Michelle Guthrie arrive from Google. In these PC times her appointment ticked almost all the boxes. Once you discount her unfortunate history of working – Shock! Horror! — for private enterprise, and previously — more shock, more horror — for Rupert Murdoch. On the positive side she is a multicultural Australian female, married to a chef, with a track record of delivering management in cutting-edge areas of the media. Since Ms Guthrie has been in the job, however, what signs are there that she understands the issues confronting the ABC, let alone the Australian populace?

Well, here’s a quick list of five things she could and should do in 2017, just to demonstrate that the ABC is committed to its mission statement.  (If we’re still allowed to say “mission, are we?)

1. Move ABC HQ from Ultimo to Goulburn

Nothing better spells a national broadcaster’s dedication to serving its audience than…