David Speers takes on new political role at ABC weeks after axing of Andrew Probyn

Just weeks after the shock redundancy of political editor Andrew Probyn, the public broadcaster has announced its Insiders host will lead the ABC’s political coverage.

The ABC has announced David Speers as the new political editor in all but name, just weeks after the axing of Andrew Probyn.

The public broadcaster revealed on Wednesday that Speers – the host of the public broadcaster’s flagship political program Insiders – has been appointed ABC news’ national political lead.

The new appointment also coincides with the ABC moving the filming of the Insiders program from its Southbank studios in Melbourne to Canberra, where it will be broadcast from its new set-up for the first time this weekend.

But despite the appointment of Speers to the newly-created role just three weeks after Probyn was made redundant, the ABC defended the move in a written statement and said the two decisions were not connected.

“This announcement is a separate initiative to the ABC’s recent proposed changes to the Canberra bureau and across ABC News, designed to increase our capacity to serve digital as well as broadcast audiences,” the release said.

“Consultation on those proposals is continuing.”

Last month, the ABC made a controversial decision to cut 120 jobs as part of its strategy to target a “digital-majority audience”.

Probyn, who was the ABC’s political editor, said shortly after his axing that he was “shell-shocked” by the decision.

“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.”

Probyn told The Australian on Wednesday he was pleased for Speers to take on the political role.

“David is a very good friend of mine and I’m delighted for him,” he said.

“He will do an excellent job in his new role and I wish him the very best.”

The ABC received widespread criticism about the axing of Probyn who was one of its most high-profile reporters, including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Midwinter Ball at Parliament House last month and remarked that the public broadcaster “had no money for a political editor”.

Probyn made headlines in 2018 for describing former Prime Minister Tony Abbott as “the most destructive politician of his generation” in an on-air news report which the media watchdog, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, found breached the ABC’s impartiality code.

The ABC’s news director Justin Stevens defended the decision to axe Probyn last month, and he said on Wednesday Speers would take on an expanded role alongside 7.30 chief political correspondent and ABC board member Laura Tingle.

“David Speers is a hugely respected political journalist and with his Insiders responsibilities now based in Canberra full-time we have the opportunity to better utilise his vast experience during the rest of the week,” he said in a statement. ​

“The ABC plays a vital role in scrutinising our federal policy and politicians and we plan to bring that coverage to more Australians across all ABC News services.”

Speers relocated from Melbourne to Canberra last year.

Prior to joining the ABC in 2020 he was Sky News Australia’s political editor.

Speers said he was looking forward to his new role.

“As Australians wrestle with hugely important issues around the cost of living, housing, climate change, the Indigenous voice, and many others, the Insiders team will be on the ground to help them navigate how the policies and politics are impacting the nation and people’s lives,” he said.

“I’m also really pleased to have an expanded presence within the bureau.”