Labor legend Graham Richardson honoured with state funeral in Sydney
The former senior Labor minister and kingmaker has been honoured at a funeral service studded by the Labor faithful and political contemporaries.
Former senior Labor minister Graham Richardson has been farewelled at a funeral service attended by party contemporaries and a full sweep of the “political tribes”, remembered for his lifelong ethos: “Whatever it takes.”
Richardson was honoured in a state service at St James’ Anglican Church in Sydney’s CBD on Tuesday as the “master of the dark art of soy sauce diplomacy”, at a service attended by current and former prime ministers, former state premiers, cabinet ministers and media luminaries.
A former Hawke and Keating government minister and powerbroker of Labor’s once-reigning NSW Right faction, he rose out of the party machine to help deliver the victories of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating – and, later, Hawke’s downfall.
He became NSW Labor general secretary at just 27 and entered the Senate by 33 as its youngest member at the time, becoming a cabinet minister in 1987 and serving in the environment, arts, transport, health and social security portfolios.
Born in 1949, he was revered within the Labor Party as much for his external achievements in politics as his internal dominance of the political process.
His cousin Helen McLenaghan recalled his love of cowboys as a loyal member of the Kellogg’s Wild West Club. This heroic flair extended to political life, where his former chief of staff David Tierney invoked his love for the underdog – embodied by his support of the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Many treasured memories shared by mourners took place around the lazy Susan of Sydney institution Golden Century, where Richardson plied his trade as a political operative whose “weapon of choice was the chopstick”, Mr Tierney said.
As environment minister, he oversaw major conservation victories, chiefly protecting the Daintree and Kakadu and blocking the Wesley Vale pulp mill in Tasmania.
Anthony Albanese, delivering Richardson’s eulogy, drew on this legacy, saying he would be immortalised in the rainforests of north Queensland. “Undoubtedly Graham’s greatest impact came in the environment portfolio, a role in which he channelled his remarkable energy, focus and persistence into championing the protection of Australia’s natural heritage,” the Prime Minister said.
“They are achievements that will endure as a living, breathing reality. We have Graham to thank for the way in which the protection of the environment has become a fundamental Labor value.”
He was “nearly as much a Sydney landmark as the Harbour Bridge”, Mr Albanese said, and “transcended tribalism to become something bigger than the Labor legend”.
“Richo knew everyone, and everyone knew Richo,” he said.
His knack for reaching across the aisle drew him wide and vocal praise, on his left flank from Greens co-founder Bob Brown and to his right by former prime minister Tony Abbott, who called him “a rough diamond”.
Richardson followed his political career with a move to media commentary, where he remained embedded in politics, his career continuing as late as two months before his passing.
He had battled ill-health for years after a long fight with cancer and multiple surgeries, including a 20-hour operation in 2016, where his heart stopped three times.
Several organs were removed during the procedure.
Richardson told his wife, Amanda, that he planned to live until their son D’Arcy finished his HSC exams, which he did by two days.
“Even though I knew that every day since his marathon operation in 2016 was a gift, nothing would prepare me to race to St Vincent’s Hospital in the evening after I finished my final HSC exam, an experience that has left an inevitable mark on my life,” D’Arcy said.
“For me, ‘Whatever it Takes’ meant something else. It meant climbing two flights of stairs to attend the father-son graduation dinner earlier this year, a feat which I later learned had him throwing up in the bathroom once he reached the top.
“Whatever it takes meant showing up, no matter how sick, how frail, Dad may have been.”
Newly minted One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce was one of the first arrivals, who honoured Richardson’s “ruthlessness”.
Senior ministers Tony Burke, Richard Marles, Tanya Plibersek and Michelle Rowland were seated around Mr Albanese, along with Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman.
Also spotted from the Labor ranks were Senate president Sue Lines, NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, former NSW premier Bob Carr, former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and former cabinet minister Joel Fitzgibbon, one of Richardson’s pallbearers.
Coalition representatives included Mr Abbott, Nationals senator Matt Canavan, Nationals MPs Michael McCormack and Pat Conaghan, former foreign minister George Brandis and former treasurer Joe Hockey.
Embattled broadcaster Alan Jones was among the mourners.
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