Former ABC journalist Emma Alberici lashes out at trolls and defends appearance on Sunrise

Former ABC journalist Emma Alberici has hit back at trolls after she was slammed for appearing on Sunrise to plug her new employer Compare The Market. 

Emma, 50, was hired as chief strategy officer for the insurance comparison website in September a month after her bitter departure from the national broadcaster.

But social media users were quick to criticise the former economics correspondent’s new position as a fall from grace after she featured on the program to tell Australians how they could save money on petrol. 

Scroll down for video 

‘I know you need to pay the bills, but Sunrise? OMG,’ one person wrote. 

‘Sunrise?? Don’t catch racism while you’re there,’ wrote another, possible referring to the breakfast show’s stolen generation controversy in 2018.

‘Don’t sell your integrity which is broadly admired,’ a third wrote, while another said: ‘Not sure this is a good use of your talents?’

The former Lateline host rapidly fired up her Twitter to defend herself, lashing out at trolls who she said needed to ‘lighten up’.

‘Get stuffed Twitter trolls @sam_armytage is my friend and @sunriseon7 is fun tv which we could all use more of,’ she wrote.

‘I was on there to let you all know that you can save money by using fuel price apps. This morning I saved 41c by driving a further 4 minutes down the road. Lighten up.’

Earlier this year, Emma settled her case in the Fair Work Commission with the ABC.   

Emma was made redundant following a tense relationship with management in 2018. 

During her time at the national broadcaster, she hosted Lateline and went to to be the ABC’s chief economics correspondent.