Veteran ABC election analyst Antony Green hosts final broadcast

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's chief elections analyst, Antony Green, has appeared on air for the last poll of his 36-year presenting career.

He signed off by providing his expertise for the 2025 Australian federal election.

Since 1991 he has been involved with around 90 Australian elections as well as polls in the UK, New Zealand and Canada.

The ABC's federal election night coverage recognised his exit with a special send-off.

Speaking on the eve of the federal election, he said it was the right time to stop as he had recently turned 65 and would "rather do without all the pressure of the broadcast".

Paying tribute to his work on-air, ABC presenter Sarah Ferguson said Green had pioneered the way elections are covered in Australia.

"A big thanks for helping Australians understand how our complex elections work," she said.

In a video package, Australian leaders past and present called him the "GOAT" and a "legend".

"Antony Green is to election analysis and election results rather like Tina Turner to rugby league - simply the best," said the nation's second-longest serving prime minister John Howard.

Green first took up a six-month contract as an election researcher for the ABC's 1990 election coverage. He beat 150 other candidates and said he thought he was chosen due to his computer skills.

He ended up being kept on and a year later he would make his first appearance on air.

Memorable moments

The 1993 federal election was the first to use the ABC's election computer system, which Green helped to design and has been instrumental in updating ever since.

That year saw dramatic results. John Hewson of the Coalition lost what had been described as the "unlosable" election at the time.

Green noticed early on that there had been dramatic swings in the favour of the incumbent Labor Prime Minister, Paul Keating, and interrupted a wildlife documentary to report on the developments.

Less than three hours later he called the election, something he admitted made him "quite famous".

It was a "revelation to everyone" to call the election so early, he added.

Much-loved figure

Green has been described as an "Australian institution and much-loved figure with the public" by ABC's director of news, Justin Stevens.

In 2017, Green was awarded the Order of Australia in Queen Elizabeth II's birthday honour's list. He was recognised for his service to broadcast as well as "to the community as a key interpreter of Australian democracy".

He has developed a cult-like status among some of the Australian public.

He never expected his face to be found adorning t-shirts, mugs and other wares.

The warmth of feeling is so strong among his ABC colleagues, one of the country's top presenters Leigh Sales wore one of the shirts to vote on election day.

When asked about the merchandise, Green's retort was "why aren't I getting any money out of this?"

The whole thing is "a bit embarrassing", he admitted.

The task of helping run election analysis is no mean feat. Green has amassed a book of notes for every election over the last 35 years. His archive will, he says, be deposited in the Australian National Library to be preserved.

Is he feeling sentimental about his on-air departure? "Not particularly," he said.

He will still be involved behind the scenes "for a few more years", however it will be limited to statistical modelling and computer modelling.