Kerry O’Brien to depart from ABC TV

The ABC has confirmed one of its most beloved hosts and journalist’s Kerry O’Brien will depart from the broadcaster at the end of this year.

O’Brien, who is best remembered as host of The 7:30 Report, and has been host of the Four Corners program for the past five years has made the decision to depart the program when his contract with the ABC expires at the end of this year.

Despite ongoing budget cuts within the news division, the ABC was at pains today to make it known O’Brien, who has been one of the organisations highest paid presenters, was not pushed out the door. When asked if O’Brien was offered the opportunity to renew his contract beyond this year a spokesperson for the ABC stated, “Well he decided to leave, so I guess offering him a contract didn’t really arise.”

The ABC are yet to decide if Four Corners will have a replacement host.

O’Brien has been a journalist for 50 years and with the ABC for a total of 32 years, the last 26 as a national current affairs anchor. During that time he has won six Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism, including the Gold Walkley and the Walkley for Outstanding Leadership. 

For 15 years he was editor, presenter and interviewer for the ABC’s 7.30 Report and for six years before that presenter and interviewer for Lateline. He has also been a foreign and a political correspondent and is a veteran anchor of the ABC’s election night telecasts. 

“I have been extremely proud to be associated with Four Corners for the past five years,” Mr O’Brien said. “No other brand has been as enduring or as respected in Australian television and I have felt enormously privileged to be a part of it all again, albeit in a part-time capacity. 

“This is not retirement for me. I have more than enough to get on with. It’s taken me this long to write my first book so I figure I’d better start now if I want to complete a second. I also have other ideas, which may offer the opportunity to work again with the ABC.”

ABC Managing Director Mark Scott said: “The ABC audience has known, trusted and respected Kerry O’Brien for decades.

“In recent years at Four Corners he was able to synthesise important and often complex stories in a way that helped audiences stay and appreciate the very best in Australian journalism. It has been a golden era at Four Corners, and Kerry has been a vital part of the team.”

Director of News Gaven Morris described Mr O’Brien as “a giant of Australian journalism”.

“He has set the agenda and broken stories for decades with integrity and passion,” said Mr Morris.  “Above all else, he’s held the powerful to account and let no office or authority deter his aim of getting answers to questions that mattered to Australians.

“I am sure he will continue to play a significant role in Australian journalism. I thank Kerry for his enormous contribution and wish him all the best in his future endeavours, including with us at ABC News.”