Ita Buttrose walks away from ‘challenging’ ABC top job – so who could replace her?

Ita Buttrose will walk away as ABC chairperson in March after deciding not to seek after five “challenging” years in the role, the Albanian government has revealed.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland made the shock announcement on Tuesday.

“Mrs Buttrose is a giant of the Australian media industry and the Government thanks her for her exemplary service as chair of the ABC,” Rowland said in honor of the media icon’s time as head of the national public broadcaster.

Just last Friday, Buttrose, 81, told ABC radio she was still deciding whether to raise her hand for another five years.

“I’m thinking about it,” Buttrose told Melbourne morning presenter Virginia Trioli.

‘I found the ABC very challenging, but also a lot of fun.’

“The five years have gone by very quickly, but it’s a big decision to decide if I’m going to do another five years because I have to be practical.

“I am a woman of a certain age and although everything seems fine at the moment, life is full of unexpected detours and you never know how it will turn out.”

Buttrose was chosen in 2019 by then Prime Minister Scott Morrison for the role as ‘captain’s pick’ as her name was not on a shortlist compiled by an independent selection panel.

Australians trust Ita. I trust Ita and that’s why I asked her to take on this role,” Morrison said after announcing his choice.

Buttrose’s departure is already fueling speculation about who will take over one of the country’s most prestigious and high-profile media roles.

A likely successor from within the organization would be ABC deputy chairman Peter Tonagh, but the Labor government is trying to put its own stamp on the broadcaster.

If Labor were to pick one of their own candidates they would include former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, former Opposition Leader Kim Beazley and former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.

Two former Labor Communications ministers, Michael Lee and Stephen Conroy, could also be considered, although Mr Conroy, who has often appeared on Sky News’ Conservative talk shows, is thought to be out of favour.

One candidate with both Labor and media ancestry is Kim Williams, the son-in-law of iconic Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and former CEO of News Corp Australia and Foxtel.

Another potential candidate is senior lawyer Danny Gilbert, the co-founder of the Gilbert + Tobin firm, believed to be labour-friendly, and currently co-chair of the strongly pro-Voice body, Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition.

National Film and Sound Archive president Gabrielle Trainor would be another strong contender to become ABC’s third female president after Buttrose and Dame Leonie Kramer.

More to come