Overview
- Richardson died at 3:50am Saturday after weeks of influenza and pneumonia, with recent dialysis, his wife Amanda and son D’Arcy told 2GB host Ben Fordham.
- He served as a New South Wales senator from 1983 to 1994 and held cabinet posts under Bob Hawke and Paul Keating across social security, transport and communications, health and the environment.
- As environment minister he helped block Tasmania’s Wesley Vale pulp mill and supported heritage protections for the Daintree Rainforest and Kakadu National Park.
- After leaving parliament in 1994, he became a prominent media commentator, hosting Sky News programs Richo and Richo + Jones and featuring regularly on election night coverage.
- Leaders and colleagues including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg praised his loyalty and impact; he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020.