The former Sky political editor says he’s not out to do ‘gotcha’ interviews but when he wants answers he won’t give up

It’s been a long wait for David Speers between resigning from Sky News in May 2019 and stepping into Barrie Cassidy’s shoes on Sunday. But after eight months the political journalist will front the ABC’s Insiders for the first time on Sunday.

A desire for change and a chance to work in public broadcasting were the triggers for Speers to quit after two decades in the press gallery as political editor of Sky where he had established himself as an unflappable live broadcaster and a sharp interviewer.

“I think the public broadcaster has a vital role to play and I wondered many times if I’d have the opportunity to be a part of it,” he tells Guardian Australia.

“It’s really important to our social fabric. I do think it’s different to any other media outlet and has a special role to play, whether it’s covering national emergencies like the bushfires or the day-to-day politics and holding both sides to account. I think it’s a privilege and a special responsibility.”

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But Sky’s chief executive, Paul Whittaker, who was rocked by the loss of his most valuable asset, was not ready to let Speers go and played hard ball on releasing him midyear.

With Cassidy stepping down from Insiders in June the timing was unfortunate but the seat was kept warm by Fran Kelly and Annabel Crabb while Speers served out the remainder of his contract.

“I had a great time at Sky and had some amazing opportunities to work with some terrific journalists, particularly in the Canberra bureau, and I don’t regret it for a minute,” Speers says.

He has moved from Canberra to Melbourne with his wife and two little girls who settled into their new schools this week.

“I was there for 19 years and it felt like I had probably achieved all that I could, with various shows and hosting debates,” he says. “And I thought I could do this and still be fulfilled or I could change and and try something completely different; a different style of journalism focusing on one quality program a week. One that does have a strong following; one that reaches out to a much, much broader audience.”

Speers is under no illusion that the ABC audience won’t be a tough crowd to please. Cassidy, the founding presenter, is a hard act to follow and some viewers will see Speers as a Murdoch man, despite his reputation for being a scrupulously fair journalist.

His proximity to the Coalition-friendly Sky After Dark line-up of Andrew Bolt, Alan Jones and Peta Credlin mark him as biased in some people’s eyes. People who know him say nothing could be further than the truth.

“I cop it from both the left and the right,” Speers says.

“I’m either a Murdoch plant at the ABC or a secret left-wing ideologue at Sky. People are entitled to their view but I am not going to worry about it too much.

“That is something that political journalists have to cope with – the social media feedback. And I certainly found with my first interview with the prime minister there was a huge amount of social media attention on it. You don’t ignore it but you have to be able to compartmentalise it.”

The 45-year-old, who has won two Walkley awards, an Aacta subscription television award, a Kennedy award and 10 Astra awards, is taking a substantial haircut to join the ABC. He was the highest paid presenter at the pay TV operation.

His job at Aunty has already expanded to a regular spot on RN Breakfast on Fridays to talk politics, occasional analysis on the 7pm news and written commentary on ABC online.

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There will be other projects too, he says, but for now he wants to concentrate on Insiders which he says has a “very loyal audience that we want to hold on to and grow”.

“They’re loyal for a reason because the show works and has been hugely successful with Barrie, and I absolutely respect that and we won’t make any changes that are going to upset that audience,” he says.

“There are some new panel members that we will gradually introduce as well as of course keeping the existing roster of great contributors.

“It’s a good opportunity to bring in some new people and some new views on what’s going on.

“We’ll do a wrap of latest news and an interview, have Mike Bowers on Talking Pictures, and a have a good conversation on the couch.

“We’ll keep an eye on the presidential election as well this year. I think that’s going to be interesting to see how it all unfolds.”

Speers says his set political interview each week – the first one is with the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg – will be more about eliciting information than trying to catch a politician out.

“I’m not trying to do a gotcha interview but I am a journalist and I’m trying to find out information and a news angle,” Speers says.

Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) What is something that most people don't know about David Speers?



Talking Pictures presenter @mpbowers asks @David_Speers the tough questions before his first episode as #Insiders host on Sunday #auspol pic.twitter.com/owSVqeICbE

“There are times when you get a sense the person across from you doesn’t know what they’re talking about or they’re hiding something or they’re reluctant to say something.

“And that’s where you’re going to get the back and forth and some people will call that a gotcha moment.

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“For me it’s always about information. Sometimes that can be Punch and Judy and exciting – but it’s really about the journalism for me and getting the audience the answers.”

Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) This Sunday on #Insiders new host @David_Speers will be joined by Niki Savva, @PhillipCoorey and @viellarisr #auspol pic.twitter.com/YVmPhMM7Ac

Speers says he will miss the culture of the press gallery with its “camaraderie and competition and excellence in political journalism” but he is already impressed by the “sheer professionalism” from everyone at the ABC.