‘Ruthless’ political kingmaker receives final farewell
Leading figures from across the political spectrum have gathered to bid farewell to one of Australia’s most infamous marksmen.
Labor prime minister Anthony Albanese, his Liberal predecessor Tony Abbott and former National leader Barnaby Joyce following his defection to One Nation were among those who attended the state funeral for Graham Richardson on Tuesday.
The former Labor heavyweight, whose political career was plagued by corruption scandals and factional games, died aged 76 in November.
Despite his controversial legacy, he remained a respected figure among many in Labor circles and beyond, with Mr Joyce appreciating his “absolute and unadulterated ruthlessness”.
“In politics there are people with fire extinguishers and people with petrol cans,” he told reporters outside St James Church.
“That guy had a can of gasoline and if you were on the wrong side of him you would get burned badly.
“He had his sins, like all of us, but all in all he’s a great guy.”
The Prime Minister is expected to deliver a eulogy for his former Labor colleague, while Defense Minister Richard Marles and former Nationals MP Keith Pitt will officiate the memorial service.
Shortly after his death, Mr Albanese praised the former senator as a Labor legend and praised his work protecting critical natural areas, including the Daintree Rainforest, during his time as environment minister.
But Mr Richardson, who had a colorful and sometimes controversial career as a politician and minister during the Hawke and Keating governments, was better known for his factional manipulation and dealings.
He was nicknamed the “kneecap minister” after his checkered political tenure as a scathing commentator on the conservative TV network Sky News.
Despite his reputation for ruthlessness, praise for Mr Richardson has spread across every facet of politics, from former prime ministers to the Greens’ stalwart Bob Brown.
His autobiography took its name from his approach to politics: Whatever It Takes.
The hard-nosed fighter was involved in several investigations by the NSW corruption watchdog into property deals in 2009 and 2014.
He was also involved in the 1999 “cash for commentary” saga, in which prominent radio presenters such as Alan Jones and the recently deceased John Laws promoted firms without disclosing conflicts of interest.
Mr. Richardson was forced to resign from the ministry in 1992 after he used his political influence to help a relative secure a business deal in the Marshall Islands.
The relative was later jailed for fraud.
The temperamental dealmaker was unwell for a long time before his death and underwent a lengthy surgery in 2016 while battling chondrosarcoma, a rare form of cancer.
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