Former Labor senator and powerbroker who anchored political programmes following his political career, has died.
Former Labor senator and powerbroker Graham Richardson who anchored political programmes following his political career, has died, aged 76.
He died at 3.50am on Saturday, following weeks of influenza and pneumonia, his wife and son told 2GB Breakfast host Ben Fordham, who announced the news.
Fordham recounted: “When he had his big health challenge, he said to his wife Amanda, ‘I’m going to live till I see Darcy finish exams and his HSC’. Darcy did his last HSC exam on Thursday, which was his French exam. And Richo’s died this morning.”
Richardson served as a cabinet minister in the Hawke and Keating governments and was a Labor senator for NSW for the duration of his parliamentary career.
In his post-politics life, he became a lobbyist, radio talkback host, writer and political commentator , with Seven in 2010 on Seven News, Sunrise and The Morning Show, then from 2011 with SKY News.
He anchored his own political show Richo from 2011 then Richo + Jones with Alan Jones from 2014 to 2021. He also previously appeared with Nine.
In 2022 he was one of 121 Australians, including defence officials, businessmen and reporters and editors blacklisted according to the Russian foreign ministry. No shame, it was illustrious company of top journos and forward-thinkers.
In 2020, Richardson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Paul Whittaker , Chief Executive Officer, SKY News Australia said, “Graham Richardson or ‘Richo’ as he was affectionately known to so many, was one of the sharpest political minds in Australian politics.
“During his almost 15 years delivering his frank yet charismatic commentary on political affairs on SKY News, Richo added an insight, expertise, and depth that enhanced political discourse in Australia.
“His uncompromising style and enviable ability to call the election result, often before anyone else, cemented him as a key fixture of SKY News’ election night coverage, while his contributions across the network helped shape SKY News into the leading destination for live political news coverage it is today.
“Richo was an inspiring and loyal member of the SKY News team whose presence in the newsroom, and on our screens, will be greatly missed.
“Our thoughts are with his wife Amanda and son D’Arcy at this difficult time.”
Source: news.com.au, Sydney Morning Herald, Guardian