James Spigelman named as new ABC Chairman

Former chief justice of the NSW Supreme Court James Spigelman has been appointed the new chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Mr Spigelman had previously been the president of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, a member of the council of the National Gallery of Australia and chairman of the Film Finance Corporation. He  was a senior adviser to former prime minister Gough Whitlam and secretary of the department of media in the 1970s.

In making the announcement, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Mr Spigelman will be an exemplary leader of the ABC.

“He will lead the ABC at a time when the challenges and opportunities facing our national broadcaster have never been greater,” she said in a statement.

“He brings a wealth of experience in the arts and culture and will build on the work of the previous chair, Maurice Newman AC, to ensure that the ABC remains at the forefront of the media in Australia.”

His five-year term as chair of the public broadcaster will begin from April 1, 2012.