Madeleine Morris: High-profile ABC TV host quits News Breakfast after decade with the broadcaster

ABC presenter Madeleine Morris is to leave the national broadcaster’s morning news show after spending four years as a finance presenter.

Morris announced her shock departure Monday while broadcast live on ABC News Breakfast, with her last appearance on Friday.

She told viewers that she wanted to be more present in her children’s lives.

“I wish I could be there when my kids wake up in the morning and I wish I didn’t have to go to bed before they do,” she said.

Her last decade at the national broadcaster included being a reporter for 7:30 for nearly six years, deputy editor of ABC’s specialist reporting team and fact checker.

ABC presenter Madeleine Morris (pictured) is to leave the national broadcaster’s morning news show after spending four years as the finance presenter.

Announcing her departure, Morris said it was a privilege to work as a journalist and ‘ask questions on behalf of the people’.

“I just want to say a massive thank you to all of you for letting me be a part of your family for the past four years,” she said.

“We went through those Covid years together and you are as much a part of my family as I know all of us here at News Breakfast are.

“People let you into their lives on their best and worst days, and that’s just the most incredible privilege.

“But I think it’s time for me to try something else.”

Her co-hosts described her as a ‘brilliant colleague’ who led Australians through the cost of living crisis and a ‘fabulous human being’.

Morris said the ‘hardest part’ of her departure will be leaving the ABC News Breakfast team, paying special tribute to co-host Michael Rowland.

“I’m going to miss you guys so much,” she said.