'Congratulations but not happy': Lisa Millar to depart ABC News Breakfast

The host, who joined the ABC in 1993, told viewers on the morning of July 3 that her last day on the News Breakfast couch would be August 23.

"I wanted you guys here because I do have a bit of news for you," she said, surrounded by colleagues.

"After five years of sharing this couch with awesome people and people behind the scenes as well, it is time to say farewell," she said.

"I'm going to be moving full time over to the content division of the ABC where I'm going to be having more adventures with Back Roads and Muster Dogs.

"So that means it's goodbye but you've got me for a little while longer.

"I'm absolutely thrilled and grateful for the privilege of having been here and all the excitement that is ahead," she said.

She thanked co-host Michael Rowland and "the rest of the gang" for helping her transition to breakfast television and for making her laugh.

Her co-host said the move was "a big win for the ABC in that you can focus much more squarely on Muster Dogs and Back Roads".

Weather reporter Nate Byrne said he "did not forecast this".

"Congratulations but not happy," he said.

Millar first presented News Breakfast in 2018 before joining the couch permanently the following year. She is is one of the ABC's longest-serving foreign correspondents and served as a bureau chief in both the US and Europe.

ABC News director Justin Stevens said Millar "personifies the very best values and attributes of ABC journalists" and they we're sad to lose her.

"She's done a fantastic job presenting News Breakfast over the past five years - one of the toughest jobs in Australian TV," My Stevens said.

"The relentless hours never impeded her incredible warmth and energy, or her passion for delivering the best program for the audience."