Former Labor senator and powerbroker Graham “Richo” Richardson, who held various portfolios the late 1980s to 1990s, has died aged 76.
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.
He later became a political commentator and a regular contributor to Sky News Australia.
“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,” Sky News chief executive Paul Whittaker said.
“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.
2GB presenter Ben Fordham phoned into the station on Saturday with the news.
“This has come as a huge shock to me,” Mr Fordham said on the program.
“I’m a great mate of Richo. We were regular lunch companions.”
“We’ve been great mates for many years now.”
The outspoken political powerbroker had battled ill health for years – dating back to a cancer diagnosis in the 1990s.
Mr Fordham said Richardson had suffered bouts of influenza and pneumonia and had been undergoing dialysis.
He is survived by his son D’Arcy and wife Amanda.
Sky News chief news anchor Kieran Gilbert said Richardson had been a great political commentator and friend.
We should remember the career that he had, from the Labor Party machine into the Senate. He served was elected on three occasions. He served across various portfolios, from the environment to transport to health,” Gilbert said.
“But his legacy is much broader than that. He’s he’s been one of the great political commentators for so long, a key part of our election nights.
“It’s is a sad day for all of us at Sky News, a sad day for Labor.”
More to come
