Marks was appointed managing director in December, and he wouldn’t have got the job if Williams didn’t think there was a shared vision there. Everyone with a vested interest has waited with bated breath to see how these two strong and forceful executives would work together – and who would be first to cede ground to the other.
Marks has been media-shy since taking on the role in March, but he got his chance this week. Using his appearance on ABC Radio Melbourne on Wednesday to stake his claim, it could prove a turning point of his tenure.
He addressed Peter Dutton’s “hate media” comments as disappointing and no laughing matter, while also admitting the ABC doesn’t always get everything right.
But he doubled down on the comments he made to Media Watch, asserting himself, not Williams, as the executive with operational control, labelling Williams “advocate-in-chief”, alongside his job running the board.
“Kim and I are very clear. Kim’s responsibility is to run the board and to be the advocate-in-chief for the ABC … management needs to have the ability to run the organisation. The board exists, and proper governance to review what management does. Kim does not have any question with that. That’s very clear.”
Comedian Austen Tayshus says he’s sorry about the fallout for Kim Williams.
Williams had a period of grace to effectively run the ABC before Marks’ arrival. The previous managing director David Anderson’s final few months were affected by an unfortunate stint of medical leave.
ABC staff regularly share stories of Williams’ enthusiasm for the broadcaster, particularly Radio National, which they refer to as his “baby”. Williams himself admits to carrying a copy of the ABC charter at all times.
In essence, the saga with Gutman was entirely avoidable. Williams told Media Watch the pair are nothing more than acquaintances. Gutman is someone he met through his former wife, Kathy Lette, many years ago.
But within a few calls, it became evident Gutman had used the accusation of antisemitism before when he does not get his way, as he is alleged to have done to Williams in August last year. He accused a prominent ABC host of being an antisemite when they turned him down some months ago, the host tells this masthead, declining to be named.
Asked if he recalls this, Gutman tells this masthead he doesn’t know.
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“I do hundreds of interviews across the country […] maybe I said something. I don’t know.”
But he reasserts he was right in passing on his views of the ABC’s bias against Israel to Williams. His public Facebook account shows he is an overt supporter of Israel, with dozens of daily posts amid promotional material for his comedy shows.
He admits it did occur to him, he was “pushing it, in terms of protocol” and says he is sorry for the fallout it has caused for Williams.
Williams was right to have been wary, given the harm that previous interventions by a chair have wreaked on the ABC’s reputation. The crisis prompted by Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking has tarnished the legacy of former chair Ita Buttrose and former managing director David Anderson.
But how he handled the Austen Tayshus saga has been a major misstep by Williams, and on Wednesday, Marks was expressing contrition on his behalf.
“The lesson, I think, it’s obviously had a real impact on Kim. He is very distressed by any notion that he’s in any way put the ABC’s reputation at jeopardy.”
Asked by Ali Moore if this would happen again, Marks was clear. “No, I don’t think it will.”
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