MEDIA RELEASE
5 February, 1998

"The action of Senator Richard Alston, Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts, in appointing Mr Michael Kroger, will disastrously politicise the Board", That is the reaction of Dr June Factor, National Spokesperson for the Friends of the ABC (FABC).

"Mr Michael Kroger has been and continues to be a significant political player in Australia," says Dr Factor. "Mr Kroger is known as a Liberal Party operator. He is known as a great supporter of the interests of Mr Kerry Packer. Whose interests will he represent on the ABC Board?

"Mr Kroger's appointment to the ABC Board, which is wholly responsible for the direction and organisation of Australia's national broadcaster, will undoubtedly politicise that body. When in Opposition, Senator Alston attacked any suggestion of political appointments to the ABC Board. He was right then, he is very wrong now!

"This government has tried and failed to control the ABC. Its ferocious fund-cutting, and Ministers' verbal attacks on the ABC have only led to greater public outrage in support of the ABC as an independent national broadcaster. The appointment of Mr Kroger is a further indication of the Government's desire to control the ABC."

Finally, Dr Factor points to the imbalance created on the ABC Board by his appointment. There will now be three Victorians, but not a single Queenslander, Tasmanian or Northern Territorian on the Board. What has happened to the Government's own committment to regional representation?

"The Australian people must immediately let Senator Alston and their local members of parliament know how they feel about this political appointment to a non-political Board."

Dr June Factor
President, Friends of the ABC (Vic) Inc.