Tony Armstrong ordered to pay more than $1000 after avoiding paying parking fines outside ABC Melbourne studios

Former ABC eye candy Tony Armstrong racked up more than $1000 in unpaid tickets in just over six weeks, including one earned the morning after he was nominated for a Gold Logie.

Tony Armstrong is better winning our hearts than he is at putting a bit of loose change into a parking meter, it can be revealed. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Television heartthrob Tony Armstrong has been fined more than $1000 for repeatedly failing to pay for parking near the ABC’s Melbourne studios, in his final months on ABC News Breakfast.

Armstrong, 35, had his horror run of luck with Melbourne City Council’s parking inspectors publicly revealed in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he was prosecuted, in his absence, copping six parking fines in a little over six weeks.

The former AFL player now sports a traffic record as disappointing as his 35-game, two-goal career.

But his brush with the law is unlikely to diminish his reputation among his legion of swooning fans.

Tony Armstrong, pictured holding a dead toad.

Tony Armstrong attended the TV WEEK Logie Awards Nominations Announcement on June 23 last year and copped a parking fine the next day.

Court documents reveal Armstrong was first nabbed by parking inspectors on the afternoon of June 18, when his car was left for more than three hours on Sturt St, near the ABC’s Melbourne studios.

He was nabbed on Sturt St again, on the morning of June 24, having been nominated for the Gold Logie the night before.

As parking inspectors were writing him a ticket, Armstrong was valiantly on air on News Breakfast, appearing slightly sleep deprived from the previous night’s celebrations.

Tony Armstrong at the 2025 G'Day USA Gala in Los Angeles on February 22, 2025. Picture: Supplied/G'Day USA/Chris Schmitt Photo

Armstrong, who has been jokingly referred to as “Australia’s husband” and “everyone’s boyfriend” then parked in a loading zone on Russell St in the CBD at noon on July 2.

He racked up his fourth ticket back on Sturt St on July 26, and his fifth on Little Bourke St on the morning of August 6.

His final ticket was on August 15, on Russell St.

Armstrong’s repeated failure to pay his $687 in infringements prompted Melbourne City Council to send the case to court, where a magistrate slugged him with a further $329.50 in costs and late fees, without recording convictions.

In total, Armstrong will have to fork out more than $1016.50 to Fines Victoria.

On June 23, Armstrong found out he was nominated for the Gold Logie. On June 24 he received a parking ticket outside ABC’s studios. Picture: Richard Dobson

It was unclear whether Armstrong was aware of Tuesday’s court proceeding, which he did not attend and which proceeded despite his absence.

Armstrong’s run of parking tickets coincided with his final months as sports presenter on ABC News Breakfast.

He has since hosted Eat the Invaders, a six part series about eating invasive pests.

Armstrong has also recently authored two children’s books, George the Wizard and Maggie the Dragon.

An ABC spokeswoman said the broadcaster was unaware of Armstrong’s parking tickets and did not comment on personal matters.

Armstrong was unavailable for comment by deadline.