Leigh Sales will step down as the host of 7.30 in late June after the federal election – some 12 years after taking over from Kerry O’Brien at the ABC’s flagship news and current affairs show.
The dual Walkley award-winning journalist, who began her career at the ABC in Brisbane in 1995, will remain with the broadcaster in a new role and will lead the ABC’s election night TV coverage.
With the political editor, Laura Tingle, a popular stand-in for Sales, the former print journalist is a likely replacement, although the ABC’s acting news director, Gavin Fang, said he would “start thinking about a new presenter down the track”.
Does former prime minister @TurnbullMalcolm know who leaked the text messages about Prime Minister Scott Morrison? #abc730 #auspol pic.twitter.com/f7Y0FnGOKW
— abc730 (@abc730) February 3, 2022
“There’s nothing wrong, other than I just feel a strong sense of it being time to pass the baton to the next runner in the race and to take a break,” Sales told viewers on Thursday. “The end of an election cycle feels like a good time to move onto something new at the ABC.
“I’ve always approached this job with one goal and that is to ask frank questions of people in power, without fear or favour, that a fair-minded, reasonable person with some common sense watching at home might like to ask if they were sitting in my position.”
Since 2010, Sales has covered the terms of five prime ministers, anchored nine federal budgets and covered two federal elections. The next poll will be her third.
She said when she started on the program she didn’t have children and they had only known their mum working four nights a week.
“While it’s truly been an unbelievable privilege to host 7.30, it’s also a demanding job that comes with enormous responsibility and pressure and scrutiny,” she said.
Congratulations @LeighSales - what a remarkable tour of duty in the chair at @abc730. Great days ahead for you. Our heartfelt thanks.
— Mark Scott (@mscott) February 10, 2022
The ABC’s managing director, David Anderson, said Sales was respected by audiences and all sides of politics. “Leigh’s integrity, intellect and courage are evident in everything she does,” he said.
Fang said he wanted her to stay in the role but Sales had wanted a new challenge.
“We would love to have her stay in that role, but it’s in Leigh’s nature to seek fresh challenges, and it’s exciting for everyone to see what she’ll do next in journalism,” he said.
In 2021 7.30’s average audience rose 3% to almost 1 million total viewers an episode with a 13% share of metro audiences in its time slot and 12.5% of regional audiences, according to ABC figures.
Sales has written three books, worked for several charities and co-hosts the popular podcast Chat 10, Looks 3 with Annabel Crabb.
In 2019 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to broadcast journalism.