19 December 2006
Minister recognises achievements of long-serving ABC Chairman Donald McDonald AC
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today recognised the considerable achievements of the departing ABC Chairman, Mr Donald McDonald AC.
“Mr McDonald has been instrumental in leading the ABC through a period of considerable change. As a result of his efforts, Australians have seen the ABC grow to become a major provider of innovative online services, make sizeable progress in digital broadcasting, expand regional services and achieve considerable critical success in television programming,” Senator Coonan said.
“Mr McDonald’s time as ABC Chair coincided with a period of rapid technological change. ABC Online and efforts to convert the ABC to digital TV were less than a year old when Mr McDonald was appointed. He was influential in the success of ABC Online, which now hosts some 2.3 million pages of content and each month attracts 2.2 million unique Australian users (or almost one in five Australian Internet users). ABC digital TV is now available to 96 per cent of Australia’s population.
“I was also pleased to see the ABC expanding its regional presence during Mr McDonald’s time as Chairman.
“Through the energy, efforts and dedication of Mr McDonald, the ABC now delivers more services, has greater regional reach and maintains high quality programming and services enjoyed by millions of Australians every week.
“I sincerely thank Mr McDonald for his contribution, as well as the time, effort and energy he has put into the ABC and for his leadership of the Board.”
Mr McDonald is the longest serving Chairman of the ABC since it became a corporation in 1983.
He was appointed ABC Chairman on 24 July 1996 for a five year term, and re-appointed on 24 July 2001 for a further five years.
In June 2006, he was re-appointed until 31 December 2006. Mr McDonald has been involved in the administration of arts organisations for over 40 years.
Mr Maurice Newman AC will take on the role of ABC Chairman from 1 January 2007.
Media Contact: Jane McMillan 0438 690 305
www.minister.dcita.gov.au