Listening to 4QR 612 Brisbane for the storm coverage. The main announcer sounds muffled. As did the previous presenter. Yet all the promos and even some of the phone calls sound fine.
Is their mic stuffed? Or are they using headset commentary mics?
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I thought that when it was announced that Chris would leave her role as 10 News weekend presenter, she would be able to concentrate on her other job hosting Sydney Drive. Turns out she wants to spend less hours on air.
perhaps the decision was made for her.
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ABC announcement
Chris Bath steps down as ABC Radio Sydney Drive host to be replaced by Thomas Oriti in 2026
Chris Bath has decided to leave the ABC Radio Sydney Drive program after what she says has been a big year.
Chris shared the news with listeners during her program today saying: “Timing in life is a funny thing, and I’ve decided to step down from Drive to pursue some passion projects and different opportunities away from the news cycle that have been beckoning for years. I know I’m leaving Drive Listeners and my team in safe and kind hands with Tom Oriti."
“The great thing is that I’ll get to gasbag with listeners about some of those passion projects and perhaps explore theirs too on the radio on Sunday mornings on ABC Radio Sydney. The new show will be an antidote to the relentlessness of the news cycle, celebrating people doing great things across NSW, and creating that sense of community that ABC local radio does so well.”
The new program will air on Sunday morning from 10am to 12pm AEDT and will be heard on ABC Radio Sydney and across NSW.
Chris has hosted Drive since the beginning of 2025, stepping into the role following Richard Glover’s departure after a 26-year tenure.
One of Australia’s most recognised media figures, Chris began her journalism career at Sydney’s Radio 2UE, then over the next seven years, held news reading and reporting roles at Prime TV in Albury, followed by NBN Television in Newcastle. She spent two decades at the Seven Network in Sydney, anchoring live and rolling coverage of national and global news events, hosting public affairs programs, and reading the nightly news bulletin. For the past seven years, she’s anchored the Ten Network’s national weekend bulletin. But she says one of her career highlights, was her time hosting Evenings on 702 ABC Radio Sydney from 2017-2019 because of the show’s incredible sense of community.
In 2026, the Drive microphone will be handed to Thomas Oriti, currently host of the national Breakfast program on ABC NewsRadio and Background Briefing on ABC Radio National. Thomas brings a wealth of experience as a presenter and senior reporter across the ABC’s flagship current affairs programs—AM, PM, and The World Today and recently as co-host of Weekend Breakfast on ABC TV. Thomas has called the ABC home for 17 years with previous roles with the Sydney TV newsroom, triple j, and in regional NSW.
Thomas first joined the ABC as a cadet journalist in Sydney in 2009 and spent several years reporting on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Thomas grew up in the Blue Mountains and attended school in western Sydney. He now lives in Sydney with his wife, ABC National Disability Affairs Reporter Nas Campanella and their son Lachie.
“ABC Radio Sydney has always been part of my life—I grew up listening to it, and it’s shaped the way I think about journalism and storytelling. To now be joining the team as Drive presenter is a real privilege. I’m excited to connect with listeners across the city and continue the tradition of thoughtful, engaging radio.”
ABC Head of Capital City Networks, Anthony Frangi, praised both presenters:
“Chris has done a remarkable job stepping into the Drive slot. It’s a testament to her warmth and talent that she’s been so embraced by our audience. I’m sure Sunday mornings will be all the richer for her presence.”
“Thomas is a wonderful talent and we’re excited to welcome him to ABC Radio Sydney Drive in the new year.”
As part of the 2026 lineup, Rae Johnston will move to Saturday mornings, from 10am to 12pm AEDT. James O’Loghlin and Kathryn Robinson will remain at the helm of the Afternoon program, while James Valentine continues his recovery away from the mic during the early part of the year.
ABC Radio Sydney looks forward to an exciting year ahead, with fresh voices and familiar favourites continuing to connect with audiences across the city.
Due to coverage of the Storm in Brisbane, the regional Queensland ABC Local Stations are carrying the NSW Evenings Show tonight. It was weird hearing Renee Krosch on 1548 Emerald
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How often do we see an ABC Local station do full emergency coverage outside of a cyclone?
Bushfires?
Forgot about those.
I meant more outside of a bushfire/cyclone/major disaster
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what other reason would you have to need to go into emergency coverage?
ABC Radio Perth welcomes Oliver Peterson to Drive
720 ABC Radio Perth is delighted to announce our Drive program in 2026 will be presented by Oliver ‘Oly’ Peterson.
Oly is an experienced, award-winning journalist and broadcaster; most recently the host of Perth LIVE, the afternoon program on 6PR Radio.
Having started his career as a cadet in the ABC Perth newsroom, he has worked in news and current affairs for almost two decades, covering a broad range of stories including the execution of the Bali Nine ringleaders; broadcasting from the main street of Carnarvon on the day Cleo Smith was found and through the rounds from state politics to police and crime to sport.
Manager of ABC Radio Perth Danielle Benda said Peterson would bring great depth of radio experience and a reputation for hard work to the Drive program.
“Oly has great energy and a deep knowledge of Perth and our concerns and issues. He also has a deep affection for this city and what makes it such a great place to live.
“I am greatly looking forward to having him at ABC Radio Perth.”
Peterson said he was “pumped” about moving back to the ABC.
“Radio is the best medium and I can’t wait to re-connect with the passionate and informed ABC audience,” he said.
“I really want to build a show around you with a strong emphasis on talkback, as I see it as the original social media.
“Our phone lines will always be open so we can share with each other what is going on and what matters to you.
“Drive will continue to inform and entertain as we steer into the news, the stories and issues to set the agenda and get Perth talking.”
Oly’s appointment comes following the announcement in October that current Drive presenter Gary Adshead will step down at the end of the year.
According to The Guardian Australia’s Amanda Meade, Media Diversity Australia CEO Paula Kruger unleashed on the ABC for its record on diversity, following the paper’s story on the all-male weekday line up at ABC Sydney in 2026, after Chris Bath’s shock departure from Drive.
“If you are content with delivering an ‘all white is alright’ and ‘all bloke means we’re not woke’ line up to a 2025/26 audience, there is no saving you,” Kruger said on LinkedIn.
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I mean, that wouldn’t be a take I could rally behind.
This is one I could.
I asked Jacqui Ewart, a Griffith University professor who’s been researching talkback radio for decades, what she thought about the male-to-male shifts.
“I’m a bit shocked to tell you the truth … I mean you might expect something like this from commercial radio with their shock-jockery,” Ewart says. “There’s a risk of alienating a section of the audience, particularly with the ABC, if all you have are male presenters … I’m not suggesting that all men have a limited world-view, but if you do have a line-up of men, there could be a perception among some listeners that women’s interests are not being catered for.”
Although a Facebook comment pointed out ABC Melbourne doesn’t seem to have male newsreaders, so there’s balance for the sake of it.
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Nicholas Hynes has been presenting the 1pm news on ABC News Melbourne over the past month.
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Taking a page from the 2GB/2CHplaybook are we 2BL?
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They really shouldn’t have removed Sarah MacDonald from mornings, they didn’t achieve much by doing it.
Having said that if Thomas Oriti is the best option to replace Chris Bath that’s great (and I do believe he is deserving), the decision shouldn’t be based on gender.
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Meant to post earlier, last night was a rare split program feed on ABC Local Radio NSW.
92.5 Gosford aired the Matildas vs New Zealand football game from Central Coast Stadium (not sure if that was on 702 as well) whilst the rest of NSW (at least Newcastle, Wollongong and Mid North Coast) took the regular evenings program.
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Gosford was the only NSW station to air it on analogue radio
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Why? Surely that would have national significance to deviate from the usual boredom that is the evenings show to air the Tillys vs the Kiwis.
That should’ve been put on analogue all over the joint, move the evenings show to streaming DAB and DTV.
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