‘I’m shell-shocked’: ABC axes political editor Andrew Probyn

Andrew Probyn is at a total loss to comprehend the organisation’s logic in eliminating the position of ABC political editor.

The ABC has announced 120 redundancies across the organisation, with the highest profile cut being the public broadcaster’s national political editor, Andrew Probyn.

Probyn told The Australian on Thursday he was “gobsmacked” by the news.

“It’s a role I’ve held since 2017, and only those who have held this position would understand the enormous public and political pressure and scrutiny there is on it,” he said.

In what he has dubbed its “next steps in digital transition”, ABC managing director David Anderson said the cuts were “carefully made decisions” on savings to help “strengthen the ABC into the future”.

However, a perplexed Probyn – who for six years has been one of the ABC’s two highest-ranking political journalists, along with 7.30’s chief political correspondent Laura Tingle – is at a loss to comprehend the organisation’s logic in eliminating altogether the position of ABC political editor.

“I’m struggling to understand how the national broadcaster should see fit to make redundant the role of ABC political editor,” he said. “I was told they want to employ two new social and digital media reporters in the Parliament House bureau.” It is understood that Probyn has been a consistently strong performer in digital output and newsbreaking.

“I’m an equal opportunity harasser of politicians, regardless of their political stripe.

“I’m shell-shocked. I’m just shell-shocked.”

There were also suggestions by some ABC staff late on Thursday that Probyn may have been paying the price for being too feisty internally with the public broadcaster’s own executives.

One senior on-air ABC source said Probyn’s departure would be keenly felt by the news unit. “Probes is one of our best newsbreakers, but perhaps he is paying the price for standing up to management over some of their more stupid editorial and staffing decisions in recent times,” the source told The Australian.

“We are obsessed with ‘diversity’, but it comes at a cost.”

ABC journalist Andrew Probyn.

Probyn has faced his share of political protests at his fearless approach to reporting. Claims emerged in 2018 that former PM Malcolm Turnbull was furious with some of Probyn’s reporting about his government, and was said to have made his dissatisfaction known to former ABC chair Justin Milne.

But the “equal opportunity harasser” has had his share of run-ins with other leaders as well, with his stake-out of the 2021 G20 meeting in Rome playing a key role in French PM Emmanuel Macron’s famous accusation that Scott Morrison had lied to him.

In 2017, Probyn described Tony Abbott as “the most destructive politician of his generation”.

Probyn also told The Australian on Thursday that it was too early to consider whether he would seek another role at the ABC, in the wake of the political editor’s position being made redundant. “I’m not even thinking … I’m not even considering that,” he said.

The public broadcaster’s restructure is underpinned by a desire to “modernise the ABC’s skills base”, according to Mr Anderson.

The ABC will launch ABC News Sunday, a new national bulletin, and reintroduce Stateline.

It will also establish a dedicated climate, environment and energy reporting team that will prioritise issues “that are consistently rated as critical for the nation’s future, particularly by younger Australians”, Mr Anderson said.

Its stand-alone arts team has been disbanded and will be absorbed into the wider newsroom.

Of the 120 job cuts to be announced over the next fortnight, 40 will be in the news division.

In his email to staff on Thursday, Mr Anderson said the nationwide overhaul was designed to “meet the needs of audiences”.

“Along with other media organisations here and overseas, the ABC is operating in an environment that is subject to inflationary pressures.

“The decisions we make now are necessary for the longer term.. The reinvestment and the transition to digital-first will mean new roles and new skills are required across our workforce.”