Annabel Crabb, the well-known ABC broadcaster, cookbook writer, and political commentator, recently opened up about her family's tendency to hoard sentimental items, her experiences hosting Kitchen Cabinet, and an emotional moment at the Logies. In an interview at Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, she revealed that she carries a locket of her paternal grandmother's hair in her handbag, adding, "Our family doesn't really throw things out." She also mentioned that they have two thick plaits of her late maternal grandmother's hair from her childhood.
Exploring History and Hoarding
Crabb chose the Royal Botanic Gardens for the interview because it is Australia's oldest collecting institution. The location is also near the State Library of New South Wales, where she has been interviewing staff for her latest ABC podcast, History or Hoarding?. The podcast delves into curious objects in the library's collection, exploring their historical significance and the stories behind them.
Personal Anxieties and Public Life
Despite her affable on-screen persona, Crabb admitted to feeling anxious at events, particularly about recognizing people. "My worst thing, and this actually causes me genuine distress, is that I'm kind of bad with faces," she said. She recalled crying in the makeup room at the Logies after misidentifying several people, including an actress who had portrayed her on television.
Crabb lives in Sydney's inner west with her partner, Jeremy Storer, a senior lawyer at the ABC, and their three teenage children. She recently witnessed her eldest daughter vote for the first time in 2025 while filming Civic Duty, an ABC docuseries about Australia's democratic system. The series, along with her latest book There's a Prawn in Parliament House, aims to make politics accessible to a wider audience, including children.
Career Journey and Family Life
Growing up on a farm in South Australia, politics was not a major topic in Crabb's household. After studying arts and law at Adelaide University, she began her journalism career at the Advertiser, covering state and federal politics. She later moved to the Age in Melbourne and then to London, where she worked as a correspondent. Her first child, Audrey, was born in London, and she fondly recalled the support from her childhood friend Wendy Sharpe, with whom she has co-authored cookbooks.
Returning to Australia in 2007, Crabb joined the ABC in 2009 as chief online political writer and presenter of The Drum. Her first major hosting role came in 2012 with Kitchen Cabinet, a show where politicians cook for her. Despite initial concerns about being perceived as an idiot, she has hosted nine series and defended the show's approach, stating that she uses her skills to create real conversations, not just interviews.
Advocacy for Work-Life Balance
Crabb has been a vocal advocate for work-life balance, notably in her book The Wife Drought, which addressed the challenges women face. She is encouraged by trends such as increased acceptance of parental leave for fathers but believes structural change is too slow. "I don't make judgments about the choices that people make in terms of how to organise their lives," she said, emphasizing her concern about societal assumptions regarding childcare and income-earning roles.
Family Treasures and Keepsakes
During the walk through the gardens, Crabb pointed out a patch of yellow daisies and spoke about her mother and grandmother, who were devoted gardeners. She admitted she does not share their green thumb but connects with her mother through cooking. If her house were on fire, she would rescue a sketchbook she started 18 years ago, filled with recipes and memories of her children. "As the kids started to talk, I started using that book to write down the funny shit they said," she said, noting that it has become a cherished family document. When her daughter moved to university, she demanded that Crabb start a scrapbook with recipes for her favorite dishes.
History or Hoarding? With Annabel Crabb is available now.
