Ita Buttrose, 77, 'is set to be named chair of the ABC and become just the second ever woman to head up the corporation'
- Ita Buttrose is the surprise frontrunner to take over as the next chair of the ABC
- Federal cabinet is expected to discuss next week her possible appointment
- She would be only second woman to have chaired the ABC board in its history
Ita Buttrose is a surprise frontrunner to become the next chair of the ABC - almost five decades after becoming the first woman to edit a mass circulation magazine.
The 77-year-old media trailblazer's possible appointment is expected to be discussed by federal cabinet next week.
Buttrose, a former Australian of the Year and Studio 10 personality, if chosen would become only the second woman ever to have chaired the ABC board, in the national broadcaster's 89-year history.
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Ita Buttrose (pictured) is a surprise frontrunner to become the next chair of the ABC - almost five decades after becoming the first woman to edit a mass circulation magazine
Her appointment would bring to a close a troubled period for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation following the rancorous exit of the previous chairman Justin Milne and managing director Michelle Guthrie six months ago.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is expected to bring the matter up with cabinet this week.
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'The government is undertaking a process to appoint a new ABC chair,' a government spokesman told Australian Associated Press.
'No decision has been made and an announcement will be made in due course.'
Buttrose in 1972 was the founding editor of Cleo magazine, which featured nude centrefolds of male celebrities, and was later editor of The Australian Women's Weekly
A woman hasn't chaired the ABC since the late Dame Leonie Kramer was appointed in the early 1980s.
Buttrose in 1972 became the founding editor of Cleo magazine, which featured nude centrefolds of male celebrities, and was later editor of The Australian Women's Weekly and editor-in-chief of The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Senator Fifield is expected to take Ms Buttrose's nomination to cabinet this week, despite her name not being included in a shortlist, assembled with input from international recruitment firm Korn Ferry.
The ABC was allocated $1.12billion from taxpayers in the 2018/19 budget.
