The distinguished ABC journalist Albert Asbury has died in Brisbane aged 69. He worked for the ABC for 50 years including 32 years as chief of staff, guiding Queensland's daily television news coverage.

Albert went to Papua New Guinea in 1969 as the ABC's political correspondent. At self government in 1973, he stayed on as the first news editor of the National Broadcasting Commission of PNG.

ABC Pacific correspondent Sean Dorney said Albert covered the early political career of Sir Michael Somare and became a trusted confidant of the major identities of the day, including PNG's first Governor-General, Sir John Guise.

In September 1975, Albert was amongst the people awarded the PNG Independence Medal. He concluded his career in PNG as the ABC’s Port Moresby-based correspondent.

Sean Dorney says Albert’s death marks the end of an era. "He was of terrific value to the ABC and will be remembered as one of the most remarkable journalists the ABC has had," he said.

In 1958, Albert was recruited to work in the ABC’s Townsville newsroom and in the 1960s was the journalist in charge in Longreach, his stories from western Queensland peppering the national news.

After leaving PNG in 1976, he became the ABC’s Queensland TV news chief of staff. He retired in early 2008. Albert is survived by his children Ingrid, Christine and Michael, and his wife Lyn.

Lower photo (from left): Sean Dorney, Bruce Bertram, Albert Asbury and Bob Lawrence in the ABC’s Port Moresby  newsroom, 1975 [ABC]