Host David Speers will take a bigger role in the ABC’s political coverage, taking on the new role of national political leader and reporting throughout the week, the ABC has announced.
The paper comes ahead of the first Sunday of Insiders broadcast from a newly upgraded Canberra studio.
Two new automatic cameras have been purchased for the ABC’s Northbourne studio to house Insiders, which was filmed for 21 years at the ABC’s Southbank studio in Melbourne.
“It’s great to have the show that deals with the nation’s politics now at the center of the action,” Speers said.
Last week’s show was held at the National Press Club because the Northbourne set was not ready.
The promotion of Speers, who will anchor the ABC’s political coverage alongside 7.30 chief political correspondent Laura Tingle, comes two weeks after the ABC axed the role of national political editor and sacked Andrew Probyn .
The ABC insists the two movements are unrelated.
“This announcement is independent of recent proposed changes by the ABC to the Canberra bureau and to ABC News, designed to increase our ability to serve digital and broadcast audiences,” the ABC said.
“The consultation on these proposals continues.” The proposals include the loss of 41 news positions and the abolition of eight Sunday news bulletins at 7pm.
A total of 120 jobs are to be created as part of sweeping changes designed to transform the public broadcaster from a linear TV broadcaster to a digital media organisation.
Speers, who returned to Canberra from Melbourne last year, welcomed her new role.
“I’m also very happy to have an expanded presence in the office,” Speers said. “The ABC Parliament House team is a powerhouse of incredibly talented and dedicated journalists. It’s a privilege to be part of this team and I look forward to working even more closely with everyone.”
“As Australians grapple with very important issues around the cost of living, housing, climate change, Indigenous voice and many others, the Insiders team will be on the ground to help them navigate how policies and policies affect the nation and people.lives”.
ABC news director Justin Stevens said with Speers based in Canberra full-time, the organization can better use his extensive experience for the rest of the week and would “have a bigger presence in the ABC News’ political coverage across all platforms.”
“The ABC plays a vital role in scrutinizing our federal politics and politicians and we plan to bring that coverage to more Australians across all ABC News services,” Mr Stevens said.
Insiders is Australia’s most watched morning program with a total average weekly audience in 2023 of 687,000 viewers across all viewing modes.
Insiders is the only ABC current affairs program to have grown its broadcast audience since 2019, increasing its TV numbers by 4%, while Q+A was down 36% and Four Corners a 19%, as audiences left traditional television.
