RETIRED journalist Barrie Cassidy has been appointed the new chair of the board of Old Parliament House.

Cassidy, whose appointment will begin in May, when the term of the current chair Nick Minchin expires, is best-known as a political journalist and current affairs television presenter.

He began his career working at regional newspapers before joining the “Melbourne Herald” as a court reporter, and in 1979, became a federal political correspondent for radio and television.

Cassidy was the personal press secretary and later senior political advisor to Prime Minister Bob Hawke, then worked as a correspondent for “The Australian” in Washington and for the ABC as a European correspondent based in Brussels.

On his return to Australia, he played a pivotal role in the creation of the ABC’s “Insiders” television program, which he hosted from 2001 to 2019 and also hosted ABC News Breakfast, “Offsiders” and “One Plus One”.

Museum of Australian Democracy’s director Stephanie Bull says she is looking forward to working with Cassidy, saying the time he had spent as a press secretary and as a journalist for five decades had given him a depth of experience relevant to the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Along with Cassidy’s appointment, it was announced that Gai Brodtmann, former MP for Canberra (2010 to 2019) had been re-appointed for a second term.