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Lane grew up in the regional Victorian town of Mildura, graduating from St Joseph’s College in 1985, then studying journalism in Adelaide.
She began her career as a reporter-producer with Channel Ten in Adelaide, then joined Seven as executive producer of Sunday Sunrise.
She became ABC Radio’s chief political correspondent in 2011, reporting for AM, PM and The World Today, before moving on to 7.30 in 2013. Since 2021 she has been presenting the show from Hobart.
“When I was approached to anchor AM it was a dream come true,” Lane said in a statement published on the ABC website.
“I was asked to commit to presenting the program for two electoral cycles, preferably three, and I’ve done three. This has been my ninth year hosting the program but my body is saying, ‘enough’.
“Dear listener, thank you for sharing your mornings with me, I’ve kept you in the forefront of my mind while framing questions, in interviewing political leaders and in trying to explain this crazy world we live in.
“To the politicians and leaders who’ve not wanted to front up, but still have, thank you. It is essential in a healthy democracy for you to appear, explain your decisions and be accountable. I wish that you’d abandon the political messaging and flowery language. Please, be honest, clear and accountable – that’s what the public wants,” she said.
“Please be kind. In a world of instant judgment, give people the benefit of the doubt. Kindness costs nothing. And broaden your horizons, not everything in the world is bad.”
Former AM executive producer Kim Landers, who worked closely with Lane for much of her time on the show, said in an on-air tribute to Lane’s time on the show that hers would be “massive shoes to fill”.
“Sabra is smart, she’s persistent, she can be slightly annoying for her interviewees – but she is always asking questions people want answered.
“You could sense a tone of disapproval in her voice, the persistent follow-up questions,” Landers said.
“They will be massive shoes to fill but AM the program has got a long history, a terrific history, so I’m sure there will be somebody to step into those shows and continue the great history of AM.”
The ABC said a new AM host would be announced in due course.
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