The ABC is set to announce The Project and Global Roaming host Hamish Macdonald as the replacement for axed Sydney Mornings presenter Sarah Macdonald, Crikey understands.
Hamish had been widely tipped to replace Sarah, and brings with him a high-profile background as a foreign correspondent, having covered major events such as the Hong Kong and Egypt uprisings, nuclear disaster in Japan, and conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine. He has also won a Walkley for current affairs journalism.
A spokesperson for the ABC declined to comment, saying an announcement was imminent. Hamish and acting ABC Radio Sydney content director David Murray were contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication.
One ABC insider told Crikey that “presenters need to be in for the long haul to build a relationship with listeners. No-one can imagine Hamish sticking around for long”.
“It’s known that he doesn’t like to be disliked so it’ll be interesting to see how he takes the text line if Sarah fans get rabid…”
“It’s a reframe of who you hire for that kind of slot. Listeners want it to be someone who’s doing it as the apex of their career … someone who will be there in the kitchen and the car for a decade. That’s the foundation of the relationship. It’s about long-term commitment that is rewarded with loyalty. Is that what Hamish offers? We’ll see.”
Hamish’s appointment follows Sarah’s controversial axing. The popular host, who had helmed the program for the past two years, revealed on air in mid-November that her contract had not been renewed.
“Listen, I’m not going to be on the radio with you next year,” Sarah said late last year.
“The ABC has decided not to renew my contract here at Mornings. I am proud of what I’ve done. The ratings are up. I’ve broken lots of stories. Had the first interview with the new governor-general. I got the premier of NSW to regularly take your calls. Led the election coverage, led the move to our Parramatta studios.”
Another ABC insider told Crikey that the move is in line with the change of approach to local radio, and at a management level there has been talk of “breaking the culture”.
“If that’s true, what is it supposed to mean? Exactly what ‘culture’ needs to be ‘broken’?” asked the source. “Local radio is just that, ‘local’. It thrives on parish pump issues and myriad neighbourhood concerns — like school crossings, parks, gardens, traffic and, yes, rubbish bins.”
“It might sound ‘boring’ or ‘trivial’ to some, but replacing two loved presenters who have been listening to those neighbourhoods and building communities makes no sense. Management should make their strategy known and explain their thinking.”
ABC Radio sources speaking to Crikey last year described audiences as “fucking furious” at Sarah’s axing, and said management had gone “to war with all of [the] staff and set up a poisoned chalice for the next host”. They feared the changes were a result of audio director Ben Latimer’s commercial background, having joined the ABC from Nova.
In December, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that ABC chair Kim Williams met with a group of ABC Radio staff, who had written to the board of the national broadcaster over the changes to the radio lineup in 2025, which also saw the departures of well-liked presenters Simon Marnie and Robbie Buck.
“We believe this is a mistake and undermines what has been achieved here in a century of broadcasting,” the letter said.
Williams told the Herald that he had an “open and constructive discussion” with those staff, where “candid responses were offered”.
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