‘Lone conservative’ Tom Switzer quits ABC

The editor/academic will depart Radio National; sources claim his ‘editorial decisions … were beginning to upset the sensibilities of some staff’.

Tom Switzer in Sydney.

Radio National’s Tom Switzer is the latest ABC star to quit the national broadcaster.

Switzer announced his departure from the ABC after nine years and will finish up his weekly radio program and podcast, Between The Lines, at the end of the year.

The esteemed editor and academic said his decision to step down was so he can concentrate on his other role as executive director of the Centre for Independent Studies.

“I have learnt a lot about the craft of serious interviewing on the public broadcaster, and I am very grateful for all the support I’ve received from many producers, audio engineers and management,” Switzer said in a statement on Thursday.

He has hosted the popular Saturday afternoon program since 2015 but, The Australian understands he was beginning to feel some pressure being one of the few conservative voices at the ABC.

“Tom’s editorial decisions for the show were beginning to upset the sensibilities of some staff and even friends of the ABC. It wasn’t what his guests would say – he always challenges them – but just the mere gesture of giving some people a platform got people off-side. There is always a different side to the story, sometimes even three sides, that’s what the organisation needs to understand. Apart from Vanstone (former Liberal minister Amanda Vanstone) what other conservative voices do they have in there? It is moving dangerously into group think territory,” an ABC source told The Australian on the condition of anonymity.

“He’s been ruffling feathers since day one because he dared give guests who wouldn’t usually appear on the ABC the time of day. You would remember back in 2015 when he had Nigel Lawson (former UK politician) on the program explaining his concerns about the dangers of climate change alarmism,” another said.

Switzer’s departure adds another marquee name to the expanding list of stars walking away from the ABC. Last month veteran sports broadcaster Tracey Holmes resigned and just last week ABC Sydney’s Afternoons host Josh Szeps announced mid-show that had decided to quit his role as he felt he was “too spicy” for the ABC and wanted to have more “bullshit free conversations”.

The ABC issued a statement of Switzer’s resignation on Thursday thanking him for his service and wished him well in his endeavours with the “Sydney-based classical liberal think tank”.

“Tom has brought a depth of knowledge of foreign affairs and a variety of voices and perspectives to RN. His dedicated listeners will miss his inquiring mind, curiosity, and desire to challenge ideas,” Radio National manager Cath Dwyer said.

Between The Lines will continue to air over summer on Radio National.

Switzer’s final episode will be broadcast on January 20, 2024.