Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

I, too, rise today to speak on the condolence motion for the Hon. Graham Richardson AO. Much has been written and said about Graham Richardson since his passing earlier this month, but what is beyond doubt is that he led a significant life and he left an enduring mark on federal politics, both within the Australian Labor Party and also in his service to this place as a minister of the Crown.

Graham Frederick Richardson AO served as a senator for New South Wales from 1983 to 1994. During that time, he held a series of influential roles in the Hawke and Keating governments and made a substantial contribution to the direction of his party. His parliamentary career followed many years deeply immersed in the organisational work of the New South Wales Labor Party, including his time as the party's state secretary. Across those years, he was involved in internal debates and decisions that helped shape the modern Australian Labor Party and, in turn, the governments it went on to form.

In government, Senator Richardson held a number of ministerial portfolios. He first served as the Minister for the Environment and the Arts, later adding responsibilities for sport, tourism and the territories. In subsequent ministries, he served as the Minister for Social Security and later as the Minister for Health. Having followed the same path through those portfolios, I have some appreciation of the challenges and the responsibilities that he carried during his time in those portfolios. He also participated in the work of several parliamentary committees, including the joint committee on electoral reform, whose recommendations contributed to the establishment of Australia's Electoral Commission and the reforms to electoral funding and disclosure frameworks. Senator Richardson's ministerial career was marked by a capacity to exercise influence both within the parliament and through the broader structures of his party. He played a role in significant environmental decisions, including the protection of rainforests and wilderness areas and matters involving the Kakadu National Park. His position in Labor's Right ensured he remained a central figure in many of the defining debates of his era.

After leaving the Senate in 1994, Senator Richardson continued to play a visual role in public life. He authored the political memoir Whatever It Takes. It seems like a very appropriate title for a book written by Richo—a title that has often been understood to reflect the varied interpretations of his career, from an appreciation of his determined and resolute approach to recognising the complexities he openly acknowledged. Whatever view one may take, his writing and commentary form part of the public engagement and continued debates to this day. He went on to a long career in the media, including talkback radio, print commentary and television. He remained, and still remains, a recognisable and often forthright voice in the national political discussion. His later years also included corporate and advisory work, as well as his contributions to major events such as the Sydney Olympic Games.

At the time of his passing, it is fitting that the Senate acknowledges Graham Richardson's service as a senator for New South Wales and his contribution as a minister of the Crown. His career, with its achievements, its debates and its complexities, reflected the realities of public life and the significant impact one individual can have on that.

My personal interactions with Richo were experiences that were colourful, and I was never left wondering what his views were on the topic we were discussing. He was a man who could be easily described as interesting, of conviction, and always prepared to share his views, no matter how controversial.

So, on behalf of the opposition, I extend my sincere condolences to Senator Richardson's family, and also to his friends and colleagues, and to the whole Australian Labor Party, who have lost one of theirs. We recognise the loss of a husband, a father and a grandfather and of a political movement. We offer you all our deepest sympathies at this difficult time.