Tom Switzer

Tom Switzer (/ˈswɪtsər/; born 1971) is an Australian political writer and former executive director of the Centre for Independent Studies,^[1] a Sydney-based libertarian public-policy research think tank that focuses on classical liberal issues. He has been a host of Between the Lines^[2] on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National and a columnist at the Sydney Morning Herald^[3] and Australian Financial Review.^[4] He is author of "Events, dear boy": Any Government Can Be Derailed.^[5]

Switzer was born in 1971 in Dallas, Texas,^[6] and grew up in Sydney. He attended St Aloysius' College in Kirribilli, where he was an Australian schools U.19 800 metres^[7] track and field champion in 1989, and was trained by Australian Olympic coach Jackie Byrnes.^[8] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History (First Class Honours) in 1993; and a Masters in International Relations in 1994; both from the University of Sydney.^[2]

He is a former senior associate at the University of Sydney's United States Studies Centre (2009–17), editor of The Spectator Australia (2009–2014), opinion editor for The Australian (2001–2008), editorial writer at the Australian Financial Review (1998–2001) and assistant editor at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. (1995–1998).^[1]

During his tenure at The Australian, Switzer gave the opinion pages a more right-wing ideological bent. Among the columnists he hired was Janet Albrechtsen. In 2008, Albrechtsen wrote a column in The Australian on the consequences of Switzer’s conservative editorial line on national public discourse.^[9]

At the same time, he allowed diversity of political opinion in the newspaper’s commentary sections, especially with respect to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, which The Australian’s editorials strongly supported.^[10] Switzer had personally opposed the war^[11].

In 2008, he was senior adviser to federal Liberal Party leader Brendan Nelson until the leadership spill that resulted in Nelson's defeat by Malcolm Turnbull. It was widely believed Switzer played a key role within the federal Opposition to reject the Rudd government’s legislation to enact an emissions trading scheme.^[12]

In an opinion article on July 11, 2008, widely believed to be written by Switzer, the opposition leader Brendan Nelson backed away from the Coalition’s support for a cap-and-trade policy to reduce carbon emissions, arguing that its implementation should be conditional on a legally binding global deal that was verifiable and enforceable.^[13]

Nelson’s position was repudiated by Turnbull before his successor Tony Abbott fully embraced it in 2009-10.

In 2009, after Nelson resigned from Parliament, Switzer was a candidate to replace him in his northern Sydney federal electorate of Bradfield. In the September by-election Switzer received endorsements from John Howard, Tony Abbott and Peter Costello. Switzer was defeated in the fifth round, with Paul Fletcher selected as eventual candidate.^[14]

Switzer's analysis of Australian politics has been published in international media, including The Wall Street Journal in opinion articles such as "Howard's End",^[15] "Defenestration Down Under",^[16] "The Triumph of Tony Abbott",^[17] "Australians Turn Away From Malcolm Turnbull",^[18] and "Australia’s Left Loses An Election It Was Sure To Win".^[19]

Resignation from the ABC

In November 2023 Switzer resigned from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where he had presented several Radio National programs for a decade. According to News Corp publications, Switzer’s decision to step down “was partly motivated by the pressure of being a “lone conservative” at the public broadcaster.”^[20]

However, it was later revealed his resignation was due to health reasons. He’d been diagnosed with cancer. A year later he wrote an article placing his battle with cancer against the background of international progress in fighting the disease since President Richard Nixon declared a war on cancer in early 1970s^[21]

Resignation from the Centre for Independent Studies

In August 2025, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Emilie Dye, who until recently worked as a marketing and research analyst at the Centre for Independent Studies, had lodged applications with the Fair Work Commission alleging Switzer rubbed her leg, told her she had a “great arse” and described himself as “a very sexual guy”.^[22]

Dye also alleged in her Fair Work Commission complaint that Switzer "told me he fantasised about having a threesome with myself and another younger female colleague" during the night in question, and "implied professional benefit in exchange for complicity" by repeatedly stating he could arrange for her to receive a pay rise^[23]

Switzer denied the allegations and the owner of the restaurant, where the incident allegedly occurred, said the CCTV footage was “crystal clear: nothing happened.” He told the Sydney Morning Herald: “I run a large company ... I'm the head of people and culture, so I have some education [on this]. I'm not a detective [but] if that was a claim on my staff member, I would reject [it] because there was nothing there.”^[24] The restaurant owner told the Australian Financial Review: “From what I could see, it was just two people having a drink after work, nothing untoward.”^[25]

On 2 September 2025, the Centre for Independent Studies announced that Switzer had resigned from all roles at the organisation, citing the pressure created by ongoing Fair Work Commission proceedings and the associated media coverage.^[26] The CIS confirmed it had complied with all procedural obligations but acknowledged the dispute had caused significant disruption to the organisation.^[26][23]