Tony Armstrong, the breakout ABC star who went from winning a Logie for best new talent to Gold Logie nominee in two years, is leaving ABC News Breakfast next month when his contract with ABC News expires.
Guardian Australia understands there are no guarantees Armstrong will remain employed by the ABC and he is in negotiations with the broadcaster’s entertainment division for a new TV vehicle.
A proud Gamilaroi man, Armstrong went from TV novice to one of the public broadcaster’s most popular presenters in a period he has described as a whirlwind.
He has used his platform to highlight issues faced by Indigenous Australians and has been open about being personally subjected to racism.
“I’ve been pretty nervous about doing this,” Armstrong said on-air on Tuesday. “I’ve retired from News Brekkie and my last day will be October 4.
“I just want to thank absolutely everyone – all of you guys, my colleagues, everyone behind the camera, all the producers, all the people who watch as well and come up in the street and say g’day and all that kind of stuff.”
Armstrong singled out the ABC News division, led by Justin Stevens, for supporting him since he joined as a producer and presenter in 2020, describing his experience as like being on a “rocket ship”.
Stevens said Armstrong is “a once in a generation talent”.
His popularity with audiences has led to a constant stream of offers from commercial television and the corporate world.
A former AFL player, Armstrong walked away from sport after seven years and 35 games with the Adelaide Crows, Sydney Swans and Collingwood.
In 2019 he became the first Indigenous person to call live football on commercial radio, at Triple M in Melbourne.
In his four years with Aunty, Armstrong has done more than sports reports on News Breakfast. His self-deprecatory charm has seen him hosting ABC series Tony Armstrong’s Extraordinary Things, Monday’s Experts, Great Australian Stuff and A Dog’s World with Tony Armstrong.
He has appeared on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, The Yearly, The Project and Fox Footy. He has been a guest on numerous Play School specials and is the voice of Mr Flip on ABC Kids Reef School.
Social media is full of cheeky tributes to his good looks. Pickering cast him to read Tony’s Terrible News because “bad news is easier to take when delivered by this guy”.
“I try to do things that are in line with where I want to go, not taking me away from it,” Armstrong told News Corp in an interview about his first children’s book, which will be released on Wednesday.
“It’s taking a longer-term view and not jumping at the next thing that comes around the corner.”
Armstrong has paid a price for his advocacy. When he criticised mining magnate Gina Rinehart in 2022 for not disavowing her father’s racism towards Indigenous people, he received a racist email which the ABC referred to police.
ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland, who has been on the show for 14 years, said there was “no one I would rather sit through an earthquake with”, referring to an incident in 2021 when an earthquake hit the ABC’s Melbourne television studios.
“Tony will continue to work with ABC network, hosting a new show screening in 2025 that will be announced later this year,” an ABC spokesperson said.
