ABC chair Ita Buttrose turns down award from Barbara McNaught in wake of charity claims

ABC chair Ita Buttrose has turned down the most inspiring woman of the year award from self-styled charity charmer Barbara McNaught. The move by Ms Buttrose comes after revelations only a tiny portion of profits from Ms McNaught’s high-profile events went to important causes such as breast cancer research and that much of the money was used to bankroll her wages and other costs in her charity Momentum For Australia. Ms Buttrose had been scheduled to receive the award at the Momentum-backed International Women’s Day luncheon at Crown Towers on November 24. The awards event for Ms Buttrose was originally planned for March, but was rescheduled because of the COVID-19 restrictions. It is understood Ms McNaught sought out the media icon in March. Ms Buttrose recorded a video message to be played at the luncheon and her image was used on promotional material. An ABC spokesman said Ms Buttrose would no longer be accepting the award from Momentum for Australia. He said Ms Buttrose had “no involvement with this organisation beyond receiving an award and was never attending the advertised event”. The International Women’s Day $175-a-ticket lunch is organised by Ms McNaught’s private events company Momentum Events, which is entitled to up to20 per cent of an event’s budget. Since The West Australian revealed the lack of funds actually going to charity, Momentum for Australia has wiped from its website claims that “all profits” from its three major events would be “passed on to a nominated research program”.