Peter van Onselen leaves Channel 10 as mass exodus continues

The journalist has been the network's political editor for over four years.

Lachlan Guertin
·Senior Entertainment Reporter
Updated ·2-min read

Following in the footsteps of his former The Project co-stars Carrie Bickmore, Peter Helliar and Lisa Wilkinson, Peter van Onselen has announced that he will be leaving Channel 10.

The controversial journalist, who joined the network in 2018 as its political editor and served as co-host of The Project for a year and a half, has reportedly made the decision to return to academia.

Peter van Onselen on The Project.
Peter van Onselen has quit Channel 10 to reportedly return to academia. Photo: Channel 10

Peter previously worked at Sky News Australia and wrote a regular column for The Australian, which he is believed to continue after his exit from 10.

Prior to his time in media, Peter worked as an adviser for Tony Abbott, was an associate professor at Edith Cowan University, and wrote a biography of John Howard with Wayne Errington.

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Just last month Peter hinted on social media that he was tired of the ongoing commute between Sydney and Canberra for parliament.

“On the way to Canberra for the first sitting week of the year. I've *only* been doing this for four years,” he tweeted.

“I don't know how politicians sustain it for a decade or more. We sometimes forget the sacrifices they make!”

Peter van Onselen on The Project.
Peter served as co-host of The Project from 2020 to 2021. Photo: Channel 10

Channel 10’s mass exodus

Peter’s departure from Channel 10 follows a string of high-profile exits, including Dr Chris Brown who recently announced that he would be joining rival network Channel Seven in July after the latest season of I’m A Celebrity wraps up.

The Project has also experienced a major shake-up in recent months, with Sarah Harris replacing Carrie Bickmore and new stars Sam Taunton and Michael Hing joining the show. Existing panellists Waleed Aly, Hamish Macdonald and Georgie Tunny also remain as core members of the team.

Meanwhile, Rachel Corbett announced in February that she would be stepping away from the desk for a few months on maternity leave.

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