Tom Switzer (; born 1971) is an Australian political commentator and writer. He was the executive director of the Centre for Independent Studies (2015-2025) and hosted Between the Lines on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National. He is a contributor to The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, and the Australian Financial Review.
Switzer was born in 1971 in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Sydney. He attended St Aloysius' College, Kirribilli, and graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts in History (First Class Honours) in 1993 and a Master of International Relations in 1994.
Switzer was an assistant editor at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. (1995âÂÂ1998), editorial writer at the Australian Financial Review (1998âÂÂ2001), opinion editor for The Australian (2001âÂÂ2008), editor of The Spectator Australia (2009âÂÂ2014), and a senior associate at the University of Sydney's United States Studies Centre (2009âÂÂ2017).
In 2008, he served as senior adviser to federal Liberal leader Brendan Nelson until Nelson's defeat by Malcolm Turnbull in a leadership spill. Switzer was widely believed to have played a key role in the Opposition's rejection of the Rudd government's emissions trading scheme.
In 2009, Switzer was a candidate in the Bradfield by-election but was eliminated in the fifth round, with Paul Fletcher selected as the eventual candidate.
Switzer presented several programs on ABC Radio National for more than a decade. In November 2023, he resigned from the ABC. News Corp reported his departure was partly motivated by the pressure of being a 'lone conservative' at the public broadcaster. Switzer later attributed his resignation to a cancer diagnosis.
Resignation from the ABC
In November 2023, Tom Switzer resigned from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where he had presented several programs on ABC Radio National for more than a decade. According to a report in News Corp publications, SwitzerâÂÂs decision to step down was âÂÂpartly motivated by the pressure of being a âÂÂlone conservativeâ at the public broadcaster.âÂÂ
It was later reported that his resignation was primarily due to health reasons after he was diagnosed with cancer. A year later, Switzer wrote about his experience in an article reflecting on his diagnosis and the broader progress made in cancer treatment since Richard Nixon declared a âÂÂwar on cancerâ in the early 1970s.
Resignation from the Centre for Independent Studies
According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald in August 2025, the Centre for Independent Studies became involved in a workplace dispute after a former employee lodged applications with the Fair Work Commission alleging sexual harassment by Switzer and claiming that, after she raised the complaint, the institute had launched an investigation into her alleged workplace harassment against another employee.
According to the filings, the complainant alleged that Switzer had rubbed her leg, commented on her appearance, and described himself as âÂÂa very sexual guy.â Switzer denied the allegations.
The owner of the restaurant where the alleged incident occurred stated that CCTV footage from the venue was âÂÂcrystal clear: nothing happened.â It was also reported that the complainant had not been informed of the existence of the footage.
On 2 September 2025, the Centre for Independent Studies announced that Switzer had resigned as a senior fellow, citing the pressure created by ongoing Fair Work Commission proceedings and the associated media coverage. In February 2026, following a column by Switzer in The Australian criticising former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, a gossip columnist in the Australian Financial Review alleged that the payout and legal costs associated with resolving the dispute had amounted to approximately $500,000.