The editor of the Australian, Clive Mathieson, has quit the paper for a job with the NSW Liberal government after being passed over for the job of editor-in-chief.



Mathieson has been a popular editor for the past five years, working under the former editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell on Rupert Murdoch’s national broadsheet.

But after 16 years he has walked away from journalism to take up the role of director of economic, infrastructure and state priorities in Mike Baird’s office.

When Mitchell retired late last year he was replaced by Paul Whittaker, the former editor of the Daily Telegraph, rather than Mathieson or his other deputy, the editor of the Weekend Australian, Michelle Gunn.

Despite Mathieson’s ability, it became unlikely he would inherit the role when Mitchell told a media and marketing conference in 2014 that he would retire when there was an obvious successor.

“I would like to hand the paper and the digital businesses over in a good state,” he said. “I would like to have clearly defined successors who I felt were ready for it.”

On Monday afternoon Whittaker announced Mathieson was leaving the paper and the media for a senior role with Baird’s government.

“An accomplished journalist for more than 20 years, Clive started his career at the Advertiser in Adelaide and moved to the Australian in Sydney in 1996,” Whittaker told staff.

“He joined the business section of the Times in 1999 and spent three years in London before returning to the Australian in 2002.

“Since then he has worked across the paper and has been responsible for some key achievements: as business editor and deputy editor (business) he was instrumental in revitalising the paper’s business coverage and as editor he oversaw the business section’s relaunch in 2014 as the Australian Business Review. Clive also led the redesign of the paper in 2009.

“Clive has been a loyal and trusted colleague and on a personal level I will miss his support and absolute commitment.”

A new editor would be announced at a later date, Whittaker said.