This year’s federal election will be Antony Green‘s last as the ABC’s Chief Elections Analyst. After three decades of covering the action his final two on-air appearances will be for the ABC’s WA state election coverage on Saturday 8 March and the federal election when that date is announced.
Antony is staying with the ABC but moving to a behind-the-scenes role. Casey Briggs will succeed him post the Federal results.
Antony, since joining the ABC in 1991, has provided his insights and expertise for more than 90 Australian elections, 13 federal polls, dozens of by-elections, many local elections and also covered overseas outcomes in the UK, New Zealand and Canada.
He said:
“I used to say election night was like bungee jumping for intellectuals. You leap into the election night void hoping the thin stream of data from the Electoral Commission doesn’t snap. Election night still provides that adrenalin rush.
Covering elections for the last 36 years has been a wonderful and at time exhilarating experience. But each passing year has also made it a more exhausting experience. It is time to move on.”
Justin Stevens the Director of ABC News said:
“Antony Green is an Australian institution and much-loved figure with the public. For more than three decades he has performed one of the ABC’s most important roles with precision, impartiality, dedication and unprecedented expertise. He has the ABC’s immense gratitude and respect. I’m sure our audience joins me in thanking him and wishing him well as he prepares for his final federal election broadcast.
It’s fantastic to have someone of the calibre of Casey Briggs to step into this key role after this federal election. Casey’s analysis and insights are superb. He is ready for this step and I look forward to seeing his work on future elections.”
Antony joined the ABC in 1989 on a six-month contract as an election researcher for the 1990 election. His first on-air appearance on federal election night was in 1993, when the Labor Party led by Paul Keating defeated the Coalition led by John Hewson. This was also the first federal election to use the ABC’s election computer system which Antony helped design.
In 2016 Antony was awarded an Order of Australia for “his distinguished service to the broadcast media as an analyst and commentator for state and federal elections, and to the community as a key interpreter of Australian democracy”.