Hamish Macdonald reportedly quit ABC’s Q&A over social media abuse

A new report claims a barrage of social media abuse was a contributing factor in Q&A host Hamish Macdonald’s sudden departure from the ABC.

Social media abuse was reportedly a “key factor” in Q&A host Hamish Macdonald’s decision to leave the ABC after 18 months at the national broadcaster.

Macdonald, who deleted his public Twitter and Instagram accounts in 2020, said in January of this year that he’d “never had more abuse” from both sides of the political spectrum as he had working at the ABC.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports today that abuse and scrutiny, primarily on Twitter, was a key factor in Macdonald’s decision to depart from the broadcaster.

The TV journalist, 40, replaced veteran Tony Jones on the popular discussions program in late 2019, after relinquishing his position as The Sunday Project host on Channel 10.

Macdonald did not detail what he plans to do next however hinted at a new opportunity in a statement announcing the move yesterday.

“I am enormously grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given to host Q+A and to work alongside wonderful, talented and passionate people,” Macdonald said.

“I am really proud of what we’ve achieved together during these extraordinary times.

“I’d also like to thank the incredible Q+A audience for all they contribute to this program each week. It is, after all, their show. Their questions and stories from all corners of Australia are inspiring, revealing and clever – and it has been a privilege to receive and read them.

“I’m really excited to be moving on to a new opportunity, and working more with the ABC in the future.”

Hamish Macdonald hosted Q&A for 18 months.

ABC’s director of news Gaven Morris said in a statement: “Everyone at the ABC thanks Hamish for the incredible job he has done.

“At one stage during the lockdown he was presenting a live panel discussion program that wasn’t allowed to have either an audience or panellists in the studio. His experience and versatility came to the fore.

“Hamish has long been a part of the ABC family and we look forward to continuing that relationship when opportunities arise.”

Macdonald told Stellar in January that his role on Q&A through 2020 saw him face a record amount of abuse.

“If you’re someone who sits in the middle of those exchanges in your day job, you end up copping it from every direction. I’ve never had more abuse for the interviews I’ve conducted than I had last year,” he said.

“And the abuse has come from left-wing people who don’t like you asking difficult questions of Dan Andrews, and it’s come from people on the right who don’t like you asking difficult questions of the federal government. I’ve definitely learnt you can’t please everyone.”

Hamish Macdonald is leaving Q&A.

Macdonald rose in the ranks at Channel 10 from 2010, where he was a senior correspondent and fill-in presenter on 6.30 with George Negus.

Over the years he hosted a variety of programs before leaving Network Ten in September 2013 and taking up a position with ABC as an international affairs correspondent, before later rejoining Ten in 2017 and becoming the permanent host of The Sunday Project in 2018.

RELATED: Why Hamish Macdonald quit social media

Hamish hosted The Sunday Project alongside Lisa Wilkinson.

When he was appointed host of Q&A in November 2019 it was said he would continue to host The Sunday Project, however reports emerged he was forced to step down entirely and would only appear in an occasional capacity.

“We’re largely reliant on the goodwill of the ABC if he’s going to continue with The Sunday Project,” Ten’s executive director of news and current affairs Peter Meakin told the Australian at the time.

More to come