It was 12 years ago when journalist, Leigh Sales landed the role of host on flagship ABC news program 7:30.
Taking over from the esteemed, Kerry O’Brien, Sales quickly made the challenging role her own. It took little time for Australians to sit up and take notice whenever she was tasked with interviewing the many leaders we’ve encountered over the decades; probing them with hard-hitting questions and refusing to let them “politician” their way out of the answers we most needed.
On 7:30 last night, Sales told Australia that the time had come for her to take a step back and “hand over the baton” to the next deserving contender after the federal election- tipped to be Laura Tingle or David Speers.
The dual Walkley award-winning journalist will remain with the broadcaster in a new role and will also play a lead hosting role during this year’s election coverage.
“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. “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.”
During her time in the role, Sales has covered the terms of five prime ministers, nine federal budgets and two federal elections.
Noting the pressure of managing such an “enormous responsibility” alongside raising a young family, Sales said that when she started on the program she didn’t have children, but now has two little boys who have only ever known their mum to work 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.
Speaking about her proudest moments and the way in which she sought to carry out the role, Sales said she had “truly tried my hardest on behalf of you at home.”
“I’ve tried to shut down and call out bulls**t, hold powerful people to account, expose lies, incompetence and exaggeration in all political parties and all issues and present facts even when they’re unpopular or inconvenient,” she continued.
“I have truly tried my absolute hardest on behalf of you at home to do that every single time I’ve sat at the desk. Anchoring 7.30 has been the most amazing job and I’ll never stop being grateful for the opportunities it’s given me.”
The ABC’s managing director, David Anderson issued a statement noting that “Leigh’s integrity, intellect and courage are evident in everything she does.”
“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.
Journalists, commentators and politicians paid tribute to Sales’ legacy last night, describing her as a “formidable” and “unflinching” interviewer and consummate professional.