7.30 political editor Chris Uhlmann is leaving the program to make a documentary on the Rudd-Gillard years.
Uhlmann will be replaced in the high-profile role by Sabra Lane, currently the chief political reporter for ABC radio current affairs.
Uhlmann confirmed his move to Crikey this morning, saying: “I’m stepping back from the day-to-day.” Uhlmann says he would consider his next move after completing the documentary project, which is also for the ABC. Thursday will be his last night as 7.30 political editor — a role he first took on in 2008 when Kerry O’Brien was the host.
Uhlmann, a former seminarian, began his career as perhaps the oldest ever cadet at The Canberra Times before working as a producer for ABC 774 host Jon Faine. He went on to become a political reporter for ABC radio and ABC News 24’s political editor. He co-hosted 7.30 in 2011 before Leigh Sales was promoted to be standalone host last year.
“I’m sure more than a few people will be glad I’m gone,” joked Uhlmann, who is regarded as a tough interviewer by both sides of politics.
While Tony Abbott has praised Uhlmann, who is married to Labor MP Gai Brodtmann, as a “highly professional journalist”, Paul Keating slammed him last year for not showing then-prime minister Gillard enough respect in an interview.
7.30 host Leigh Sales tweeted today:
Uhlmann says researchers have already begun work on the documentary, which will chart Labor’s six years in office under Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd. Four Corners executive producer Sue Spencer will lead the documentary team. Uhlmann previously worked on a documentary about the devastating 2003 Canberra bushfires.
When asked about a move to 7.30, Sabra Lane told Crikey: “I’m not in a position to comment.” ABC sources say a final decision has not been made on Lane’s replacement in the important radio reporting role.
OMG! Chris Uhlmann doing a Labor Doco. What next? John Howard as the producer? I seriously thought when I read the Crikey headline that Uhlmann is leaving 7.30 that you were announcing him taking up a position the new Coalition government. Uhlmann’s loathing hostility to the former Labor government is legendary so why oh why would the ABC choose him to do the Doco? Could it be to serve their new political masters? Or maybe they are confusing hostility with neutrality.
[Uhlmann, who is regarded as a tough interviewer by both sides of politics.]
LOL Seriously?
No great loss for Auntie there. Ulhmann’s standard interview technique was to regurgitate the talkie points of the major parties as a question. His constant use of irrational Liberal talking points was particularly annoying. Call me old fashioned but I still think a journalist’s
job is to expose BS not repackage it.
I read with interest Paul Keating’s comments on Chris Uhlmann’s style and to me it was spot on. Cheap aggression and lots of interruptions and a sneering tone. His spot on 7.30’s post election special was pretty typical eg an uncritical assumption that somehow Abbott would have to “fix” a budget problem.Really? That was his take-away message from the nonsense of the last-minute bottom-line figure that exploded the whole “emergency” line? Just an uncritical agreement with the Liberal line. I can only assume ABC management likes the work done by the dreadful Uhlmann/Sales team. It’s either bias or a timid fear of Liberal cuts. In the case of Ms Sales I doubt her knowledge base eg her interview with Tony Abbott during the campaign in which he repeated the “states have to agree to change the GST” lie 3 times without challenge. I complained about this to the ABC and was told the question of whether Abbott was lying was “barely relevant”. To which my response has been I can only hope Abbott privatises this shameful excuse for a public broadcaster. Could it be any less independent?
“Uhlmann confirmed his move to Crikey this morning … ”
Welcome aboard Chris !