29-04-2025
Media union warns 'more stories coming' about 'arrogant' ABC Chair Kim Williams after damning Media Watch investigation revealed editorial meddling
ABC journalists have said they are "beyond disappointed" at chairman Kim Williams' "arrogant attitude" after revelations he intervened to assist a comedian gain interviews with the public broadcaster's Regional Radio division.
Reports emerged on Monday night that Austen Tayshus, whose real name is Sandy Gutman, obtained air time on several of the ABC's regional radio stations after contacting Mr Williams.
Many of the local stations had reportedly initially declined to host the comedian, who had sought interviews in order to publicise appearances in towns and cities around the country embarked on an anniversary tour of his cult pun-laden monologue "Australiana".
A statement from the ABC MEAA House Committee to said that following the Media Watch report "more stories of a similar nature" have emerged.
"Journalists at the ABC are beyond disappointed by revelations on Media Watch, showing that the ABC Chair, Kim Williams, has inappropriately intervened to gain promotion for an old acquaintance of his, overriding the editorial judgement of staff," the statement said.
"We are also shocked by his arrogant attitude to the professional staff that work in our regional bureaus, who work every day to uphold the MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics, which demands independence.
"The fact that this comes just months after staff expressed disgust at the previous Chair and MD breaching the ABC's independence around the sacking of Antoinette Lattouf, makes the revelations all the more galling.
"Since the airing of Media Watch on Monday night, MEAA delegates have heard more stories of a similar nature and are now consulting members to confirm their experiences. These are not appropriate actions for the chair of the ABC - a position that is appointed directly by government."
The are now calls for an independent inquiry into potential breaches of the ABC's independence by Mr Williams.
The union pointed to a meeting of 200 staff in February who declared it was the board's "legal duty" to protect the public broadcaster's independence and integrity, and claimed ABC chairs and managing directors had consistently done the "opposite".
'MEAA members demanded an independent inquiry to examine the breaches of independence under the leadership of Justin Milne and Ita Buttrose. The ABC MEAA National House Committee reiterates that call, and demands any such inquiry be given broad-ranging powers to investigate potential breaches by Kim Williams too," the union said.
"The House Committee will begin consulting widely to determine the appropriate form of such an inquiry. In the meantime, ABC staff need a commitment from Kim Williams that he will cease these inappropriate actions that undermine the ABC's independence.
"Members are also deeply concerned about the attitude shown by senior managers, who appear to have aided Mr Williams' efforts on some occasions.
"We were also disappointed to see that Mr Gutman sent an abusive text message to an ABC staff member and call upon managers and senior leadership to do better to support staff and allow them to do their jobs without harassment or interference."
Media Watch host Linton Besser accused the chairman of experiencing a "grave lapse of judgement" during the program on Monday.
Mr Gutman enjoyed a brief period of fame after "Australiana" topped the nation's charts for eight weeks in 1983.
He had embarked on a 40th anniversary tour of the cult hit in 2023, with the comedian subsequently seeking interviews with various ABC Reginal Radio stations.
According to Media Watch, the comedian has received more than 90 minutes of free publicity from the ABC since July last year - across no less than 11 segments.
However, Besser explained Mr Gutman's appearances were the subject of intense controversy, with many local stations initially declining to host the comedian.
In response to the rejections, Besser said Mr Gutman turned to a man he initially described as a "friend", the ABC's chairman.
On August 5, 2024, the comedian reportedly phoned Mr Williams and claimed he was being denied interviews because he was Jewish.
Mr Williams, in turn, reportedly called the ABC's head of audio content, Ben Latimer, saying Mr Gutman was having difficulty contacting local radio.
Shortly afterward, the comedian appeared on ABC North and West South Australia to speak about his show, despite having initially been turned away.
This was not the only time Mr Williams intervened to assist Mr Gutman, Media Watch explained, with the ABC chairman ultimately stepping in on at least five separate occasions.
Despite this, Mr Williams told the show in a statement he and Mr Gutman were not friends.
"I am not anything other than an acquaintance of Sandy Gutman, who I do not know well," the ABC chairman said.
"We had a brief involvement some 27 years ago."
Regardless of the pair's precise relationship, the interventions sparked fierce internal backlash from local radio staff.
One, who spoke anonymously to Media Watch, complained: "Local teams know our audiences better than anyone and the Chairperson has no right to involve himself in that way".
They added Mr Williams' involvement had "outraged" those forced to accommodate Mr Gutman.
Those sentiments were backed up by former ABC editorial director Alan Sunderland, who told Media Watch the ABC chairman's conduct was "inappropriate".
"It appears that the Chairman was clearly intervening on behalf of someone he knew, describing the decision by some parts of ABC Regional radio not to run an interview with that person as a 'strange attitude', stressing that the person seeking an interview was 'talent' and making it very clear he was on the talent's side," he said.
"This sort of pressure on program teams from any board member, let alone the Chairman, is in my view inappropriate.
"The fact that it was not only passed on but acted upon by program teams who felt pressured to change their editorial judgement, indicates a significant failure of process and judgement, both on the part of the Chairman and senior management."
Besser, too, criticised the actions of Mr Williams, calling them a "grave lapse of judgement" and saying the ABC's chairman had put management in an "invidious position".
The broadcaster's new managing director, Hugh Marks echoed those concerns, saying he would use the scandal as an opportunity to improve the way in which the ABC was run.
"I have been at the ABC a short time but I am vigilant to ensure the proper delineation of responsibility between the Board and management, and will act appropriately to ensure the best interests of the ABC, its people and audiences as we move forward," he said in a statement.
Those sentiments, though, have apparently done little to reassure local radio staff, with the anonymous ABC member telling Media Watch: "If the Chairperson has time to intervene and influence teams to conduct an interview about a comedian's regional tour, what else is he influencing?"
A statement issued by the ABC following the Media Watch report said management in recent months have spoken to Mr Gutman "to express clear expectations of his behaviour to staff when pitching interviews and discuss how the ABC makes editorial decisions".
'The ABC regularly engages with members of the performance community for appearances across our networks and it's important for the arts and entertainment sectors that we continue to do so," the statement said.
"The ABC Chair has always made clear he expects ABC management to follow its own independent decision-making on content. As the Editorial Policies state, the trust and respect of the community depend on the ABC's editorial independence and integrity."
