Axed ABC star’s next move revealed

Probyn, who was one of the national broadcaster’s most senior political reporters, was made redundant earlier this year, alongside up to 120 other staff, as part of a major restructure.

His new role was confirmed in an email sent to staff on Sunday by Nine CEO Darren Wicks, which lauded him as “highly regarded, respected and well liked among his peers in the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery”.

Mr Wicks said Probyn had an “envious track record of breaking major stories”.

Nine’s political editor, Charles Croucher, also welcomed the news on X (formerly Twitter).

“Having you in the building is good for our industry, having you in the office is great for us!” he wrote.

In a statement published in Nine Newspapers, the journalist said he was “delighted” to join the Nine bureau.

“At a time when the need for reliable, trusted and agenda-free news has never been greater, I look forward to working alongside Charles Croucher and some of Australian journalism’s best,” he said.

The details of his new role, and whether it will include work across both Nine’s TV offering and its papers, are yet to be confirmed.

Probyn has previously said he was “flabbergasted” after being informed by ABC leadership that the broadcaster “no longer” needed a political editor.

“I’m pretty flabbergasted,” he told Guardian Australia.

“I’ve been informed that the national broadcaster no longer need a political editor and that they want to reinvest the money into social and digital reporting roles.

“Very good luck to the ABC. I’m still trying to come to terms with it.”

Probyn, who served as the broadcaster’s political editor for five years, became an unexpected internet sensation in 2020 when a tense exchange between himself and then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison went viral.

“Andrew, I’m sorry, Andrew. I know, but you don’t run the press conference,” Mr Morrison repeatedly interrupted as Mr Probyn attempted to ask questions.

The exchange resulted in Mr Probyn becoming a sensation on TikTok as many, including singer Guy Sebastian, parodied the exchange.

He was also one of the senior staff – alongside Emma Alberici – who former chairman Justin Milne demanded be fired in 2018.

Originally published as Former ABC political editor Andrew Probyn to join Nine after redundancy