The successor for Leigh Sales on television has been announced.

The ABC has finally announced Leigh Sales’ 7.30 successor. Despite speculations that Laura Tingle or David Speers were frontrunners for the coveted TV post, Sarah Ferguson, a Four Corners journalist, and multi-award-winning presenter, has been named the next 7.30 host. The 56-year-old, who is now located in the United States working for the ABC, will take over when Sales steps down after the federal election in June. “I’m thrilled to be taking on the position of the presenter at 7.30,” Ferguson stated in a statement.

“Led by Leigh Sales and chief political journalist Laura Tingle, the 7.30 team has built a powerful program, producing great current affairs journalism at the forefront of the field,” she continued. It’s impossible to resist collaborating with the unique Laura. Adding myself to that mix seems really fulfilling at a time when authority is under investigation and our societal institutions are experiencing deep upheaval.

“In light of Leigh’s leaving, I’d want to add that her effort and expertise have made a significant contribution to Australian journalism.” What you don’t notice in her serene studio demeanor is the enormous amount of preparation work she undertakes. It will be a joy to succeed as such an expert.

“All day, every day, public service journalism must provide for the Australian audience.” Nobody in Australia should ever feel as if they don’t have a voice. It is our responsibility to demonstrate how public broadcasting can offer a space for everyone to discuss, think deeply, be excited, entertained, and occasionally outraged. This is the polarization that we are witnessing in the media throughout the world.”

Sales, 48, revealed on-air in February that she was leaving her position as presenter after 12 years. There’s nothing wrong with me; I just get a strong feeling that it’s time to give the baton to the next runner in the race and take a rest, she explained.

“At the ABC, the end of an election cycle feels like a good opportunity to try something new.” I believe it’s clear that I’ve always approached this work with one purpose in mind: to ask open questions of those in authority, without fear or favor, that a fair-minded, rational person watching at home could ask if they were in my place.”