Veteran ABC News Breakfast presenter Lisa Millar steps down

Veteran ABC presenter Lisa Millar has announced she is stepping down as host of the network’s ABC News Breakfast, after five years on the program.

Lisa Millar and Michael Rowland from ABC News Breakfast

With news one of the ABC’s highest profile presenters is stepping down from her post, the question is what will Lisa Millar be remembered for?

The respected journalist announced she is quitting ABC News Breakfast after five years on the program with her final day to fall on August 23. She will stay on with the public broadcaster working on a number of other ventures.

While Millar has been a formidable in the role, her position has been marked by a series of high profile public controversies, most notably her calling out of online trolls for bullying.

In March last year, Millar was slammed on social media for her choice of wardrobe while presenting.

Veteran ABC presenter Lisa Millar has announced she is stepping down as host of the network’s ABC News Breakfast, after five years on the program.

A small number of viewers of the ABC News Breakfast program criticised her mint green skirt, suggesting the seemingly harmless piece of clothing was “too short” and that she should “remain behind the desk”.

Following days of bullying and trolling on platforms including Twitter and Facebook, Millar made a statement and addressed the “obnoxious commentary” on air.

“The fact that what I wore on Monday attracted obnoxious commentary on Twitter – foul, disgusting personal abuse that I couldn’t and wouldn’t repeat – was upsetting,” she said.

“That it then ended up online on some news sites where the photos and the abuse were republished made me angry. Thanks for all the support, you’ve all been awesome and some of you pretty funny, some of you suggesting if we all turned up in pyjamas you’d still be fans of the show.”

Colleague, fellow high-profile presenter Leigh Sales has previously spoken of the brutal trolling she too has received on social media for simply doing her job.

“Anyone who can stomach wading into mentions of @leighsales will find that virtually hourly, I am abused for doing my job, with a stream of tweets goading me to quit, demanding the ABC sack me, telling me I’m useless, stupid, biased and incompetent,” Sales wrote in a 2021 opinion piece. “Of course, journalists expect their work to be discussed, probed and, potentially, criticised. Respectful debate is one thing, but there is a hardcore mob of bullies on Twitter who dress their efforts as a campaign for fair and balanced journalism when, in effect, they want no such thing.”

The well – known journalist revealed on Wednesday morning her final day on the couch would be August 23, however she will stay with the ABC, working on a number of other presenting and hosting ventures. Photo: Glenn Hunt / The Australian

In September 2021, Millar had deleted her popular Twitter (now X) account – which had 55,000 followers at the time, after receiving a flurry of “vile” abuse from other users.

Millar was targeted by trolls who claimed her political reporting was biased, while others attacked her intelligence and appearance.

Commentators at the time noted a male in the same position would not be subject to the same criticism of their wardrobe.

Millar meanwhile joined ABC News Breakfast in 2018 and was joined by co-host Michael Rowland in 2019.

“What a blast the past five years has been, whether it was interviewing prime ministers and global thought leaders or getting karaoke encouragement from my childhood idol Gladys Knight,’’ Millar told viewers as she made the announcement live on Wednesday.

“In 35 years of journalism I’ve never done anything so exciting, unpredictable, and fun. It’s only worked because of the awesome team in front of the cameras and behind the scenes who kept me laughing.

“Most importantly, I want to thank our viewers who brought me into their homes and lives every morning. I’ve loved sharing breakfast with you all.

“I’m excited to hit the road and discover more of the incredible stories that make up the remarkable tapestry of our culture. There are so many adventures ahead, whether it be with Back Roads, Muster Dogs, or new projects we’re cooking up. What a privilege it is to be a part of that future.”

Sales was among those to pay tribute to Millar, describing her colleague’s departure from the morning show as a “huge loss”, but saying she was “proud” of her fellow host.

“The one thing I know after 25 years working with this woman is whatever she delivers is done with quality, warmth and integrity,” she wrote on Facebook.

“The one thing I know after 25 years working with this woman is whatever she delivers is done with quality, warmth and integrity.

“You get a colleague like Lisa working alongside you once in a lifetime and Michael Rowland and the team have benefited hugely from having her there for five years.

Millar first joined the program as a presenter in 2018 and was joined by co- host Michael Rowland in 2019. Picture: Will Belcher

ABC News director Justin Stevens described Millar as a “superb journalist and broadcaster, who personifies the very best values and attributes of ABC journalists”.

“She’s done a fantastic job presenting News Breakfast over the past five years – one of the toughest jobs in Australian TV. The relentless hours never impeded her incredible warmth and energy, or her passion for delivering the best program for the audience,” he said.

It comes following years of online bullying from social media trolls – which ultimately forced the journalist to deactivate her popular Twitter account and issue a public address in 2023.

Stevens said in March 2023: “The relentless and vile bullying Lisa Millar is subjected to on social media, particularly Twitter, is unacceptable. She is an outstanding broadcaster and journalist and does an incredible job.”

Millar officially joined the ABC in 1993 and is one of the network’s longest-serving foreign correspondents, having worked as Bureau Chief in both the US and Europe.

She has covered some of the world’s biggest moments, including US presidential elections, the Boston bombing, the Sandy Hook school shooting, Hurricane Sandy, the terrorist attacks in Paris, as well as royal weddings and Olympic Games.

Originally published as Veteran ABC News Breakfast presenter Lisa Millar steps down