ABC analyst Antony Green to retire after federal election

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After 13 federal elections as Australia's top election commentator on polling night, ABC's election expert Antony Green says this year's vote will be his last one in a live on-air role.

After months of speculation, Green said it was "time to hang up the boots".

"I'm turning 65 this weekend. I work on a three-year election cycle as part of the federal elections. I won't be presenting elections in three years' time when I'm 68, so this will be my last on-camera election for the ABC," he said.

“I’ll stick around for a couple of years, handing over responsibilities and taking on other tasks, but in reality, I’m making the decision to retire and scale back on my workload.”

The well-known presenter has been the top expert in calling seats and analysing results as they come in on election night. Green started his career with the ABC as an election researcher on a six-month contract in 1989, after leaving his job in the computer industry. Since then, he has covered more than 90 elections, including 13 federal elections, as well as byelections, local elections and covering international elections in the UK, New Zealand and Canada.

Green reflected on the adrenalin rush of election night, saying it was like "taking a bungee jump – but for intellectuals".

“Gearing up for election night, you hold your breath waiting for the trickle of info from the Electoral Commission not to dry up,” he wrote. “Over the years, the Electoral Commission's data has become more reliable and plentiful, but election night still brings that rush of excitement.”

He'll stay at the ABC as an election expert, with Casey Briggs stepping in to take over Green's on-air position.

While ABC local radio in Sydney and Melbourne also have almost entirely new presenting line-ups.

More to come

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