Friends of the ABC welcomes the appointment of Julianne Schultz and Michael Lynch.

"It's an extremely welcome change to have people with strong backgrounds in local culture and a commitment to public broadcasting appointed to the ABC Board," said Glenys Stradijot, a spokesperson for Friends of the ABC (Vic).

"Though Friends of the ABC support will remain qualified until we know more about the type of ABC the new appointees will work towards.

"FABC encourages the new board members to become more open than the existing board - to inform and engage with the community about the ABC they envisage.

"Matters that go to the nature of the ABC that Friends is keen to learn their views on, include:

- The significance of the public broadcaster as a producer of local content. The ABC now produces no television drama of its own, depending entirely on external production. Specialist program units, like the ABC's Natural History Unit, have been closed.

- The ABC's increasing engagement in commercial activities which result in advertising on the ABC, risk impacting on programming integrity and may undermine the universality of the ABC by introducing charges for services that should be free.

“The process for these appointments has been a positive start for the Rudd Labor Government with regard to the ABC.

“FABC looks forward to the Government implementing its promise to restore the staff-elected director position to the ABC Board and enshrine in legislation a system that requires all governments to appoint ABC Board members on the basis of merit and independence,” said Glenys Stradijot.