ABC chair Ita Buttrose announces intention to step down amid restructure

The chairperson of Australia’s national public broadcaster, Ita Buttrose, has flagged her intention to step down from her role following the completion of her term in March 2024.

Ita Buttrose

Appointed ABC chair in 2019, Buttrose is a journalist, publisher, media personality and commentator. She has advised the government that she would not be seeking reappointment of her government-appointed position.

During Buttrose’s five-year term, the ABC has weathered significant organisational upheaval and faced pressures amid government funding cuts and defending its independence.

Under her stewardship, the ABC developed a new Five-Year Plan and has made the biggest changes to its organisational structure in decades.

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said Buttrose was the right chairperson for the right time.

“Ms Buttrose is a giant of Australia’s media industry and the government thanks her for her exemplary service as chair of the ABC. She is a formidable corporate leader who has served with distinction, speaking truth to power and upholding governance standards to protect independent public broadcasting,” Rowland said.

The government advised that it will begin a selection process to appoint the next chair in due course. Selection is conducted by the independent Nomination Panel for ABC and SBS appointments, supported by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, and an external executive search agency.