Labor heavyweight Graham Richardson dies aged 76
Graham “Richo” Richardson, the former Labor Party power broker and media commentator, has died aged 76.
The death of the key federal faction leader of the Hawke-Keating years was confirmed by broadcaster Ben Fordham on Sydney talkback station 2GB on Saturday.
Mr Richardson died of flu and pneumonia, his family told the breakfast presenter who announced the news.
“Darcy and Amanda asked me to share this news with everyone and unfortunately Richo passed away in the early hours of this morning,” Fordham said.
“This was a big shock to me.”
The former senator played a key role in ensuring factional stability for much of the nine years of Bob Hawke’s government, before falling behind Paul Keating.
He also became an advocate for nature and, as environment minister, fought hard to save forests and stop polluting development.
Mr. Richardson’s later years were marked by health struggles related to chondrosarcoma, a rare form of cancer.
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