‘Giant of Australian journalism’: Renowned journalist George Negus has died, aged 82

Former 60 Minutes star reporter George Negus, who has died aged 82, famously took on former British PM Margaret Thatcher in a headline-making interview.

Renowned Australian journalist George Negus has died, aged 82, after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, his family has announced.

The death of the former star reporter with Nine’s 60 Minutes and the ABC’s Foreign Correspondent was announced on Tuesday.

“Despite the challenges diseases like Alzheimer’s inflict on families, we still shared beautiful times, laughter and happiness together in recent times,” the family statement said.

“We also learnt a lot.”

Legendary Australian TV personality George Negus was last pictured when his son Ned posted an update on his health on Father’s Day. Picture: LinkedIn/ Ned Negus

His son Ned posted on LinkedIn after Father’s Day an update on his dad’s battle with Alzheimer's disease, saying he had taken a turn for the worst with the 82-year-old "non verbal”.

“I was hesitant to post this on LinkedIn, as it’s pretty personal,” Ned Negus said.

“But then realised you’re all humans and there’s always a place for sharing human realities with your professional network.”

He then went on to reveal his father’s condition had worsened: “He’s now non-verbal most of the time (mind-blowing for me but also any of you that know him).”

Ned shared that the pair had taken a walk on the beach for Father’s Day, revealing how Negus “was clearly not sure” what the walk was for and at times “not sure with whom he was walking”.

“At one point we stopped, he smiled broadly and then hugged me for quite some time.”

Negus was a household name during his time on 60 Minutes. Picture: Supplied

Negus began his journalistic career at the Australian Financial Review, before turning to television with ABC’s Today Tonight.

He was one of the founding correspondents on Nine 60 Minutes.

In 1992, Negus returned to the ABC to join the new show, Foreign Correspondent.

He is survived by his partner Kirsty and sons Ned and Serge.

As tributes for the icon started flowing on Tuesday, a video resurfaced of him interviewing then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1982.

“Why do people stop us in the street and tell us Margaret Thatcher isn’t just inflexible, she isn’t just single-minded, on occasions she’s plain pig-headed?” Negus asked.

The Iron Lady questioned who had called her that, and where, and Negus repeatedly said the criticism came from ordinary people on the street.

The interview made headlines worldwide and cemented Negus’ reputation for not being afraid to take on the most powerful people in the world.

Nine’s 60 Minutes’ Australia paid tribute to the “icon of journalism”.

“We will always treasure the stories and memories he gave us,” the program said on X.

For eight years Negus travelled to globe reporting for 60 Minutes.

“Today, Australia lost one of its greatest storytellers,” Nine’s director of television Michael Healy said.

“When you watched a George Negus interview it was thoughtful, intelligent, composed. He was always in control.”

News and currents affairs director Fiona Dear said Negus “opened Australia’s eyes to the world, he took us to places we didn’t know existed, and introduced us to the people who shaped society”.

60 Minutes executive producer Kirsty Thomson said the current crop were proud to work at a program inspired by Negus’ “trailblazing journalism and globetrotting genius”.

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“His legacy lives on at 60 Minutes through his wonderful son Serge, a producer on the program, who continues to do what George loved most about his job: being able to tell great stories.”

News Corp journalist Eliza Barr posted on social media that Negus was gracious and inspiring.

“It was a ridiculous sort of honour to interview George Negus when I was a newly minted cadet of all of about five weeks in 2015,” Barr said.

“He was so generous with his time – a giant and an inspiration. Vale.”

Another admirer paid tribute on social media.

“Vale George Negus, one of the most iconic stalwarts of Australian journalism,” they said.

“A shame to have lost that sharp, inquisitive mind to dementia. The laser focus and passion in which Negus conducted his investigative reporting was an inspiration to many a journalist.”

One tribute says Negus’ integrity is needed in the world today.

“George Negus was a journalist much needed for the times we’re living in,” one person posted online.

“What a tremendous loss for his family, friends, colleagues, for journalism our civilisation. He would’ve reported without fear or favour on what’s happening we’d all be the better for his wisdom.”

The Prime Minister said Negus was a wonderful, principled person.

“George Negus was a giant of Australian journalism. His courage, curiosity and integrity gave millions of Australians a sense of the big issues on 60 Minutes, and a window to the world through Foreign Correspondent,” Anthony Albanese said.

“George sought and served the truth with steely determination and a twinkle in his eye, and along the way, he made even the smallest TV screen feel that much bigger.”

“He was a wonderful human being and his loss will be deeply felt by so many Australians.”

“We offer his family the heartfelt condolences of our nation. May he rest in peace.”

More to come