Former Labor senator and power broker who anchored political programs after his political career has died.
Former Labor senator and power broker Graham Richardson, who anchored political programs after his political career, has died aged 76.
He died at 3.50am on Saturday after weeks of flu and pneumonia, his wife and son told 2GB Breakfast presenter Ben Fordham, who announced the news.
Fordham said: “When he faced his major health challenge, he told his wife Amanda, ‘I’m going to live until I see Darcy finish the exams and his HSC’. Darcy took his last HSC exam, his French exam, on Thursday. And Richo passed away this morning.”
Richardson was a cabinet minister in the Hawke and Keating governments and was a Labor senator for NSW during his parliamentary career.
In his post-political life he became a lobbyist, radio talkback presenter, writer and political commentator, with Seven in 2010 Seven news, sunrise And The Morning Showthen 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 defense officials, businesspeople, reporters and editors, blacklisted by the Russian Foreign Ministry. No shame, it was an illustrious group of top journalists and progressive thinkers.
In 2020, Richardson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
That’s according to Paul Whittaker, Chief Executive Officer of SKY News Australia“Graham Richardson or ‘Richo’ as he was affectionately known to many, was one of the sharpest political minds in Australian politics.
“During the nearly fifteen years he provided his candid 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 determine election outcomes, often before anyone else, made him a key part of SKY News’ election night coverage, while his contributions across the network helped SKY News grow into the premier destination for live political reporting that 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
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