Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has honoured Graham Richardson as “bigger than a Labor legend” during the late political strategist’s state funeral.
Albanese delivered the eulogy at Tuesday’s service, joined by a large gathering of prominent political figures who came to pay their respects.
Richardson died in November at age 76 after a long battle with serious health issues.
“He transcended tribalism to become something bigger than a Labor legend,” Albanese said.
“Richo knew everyone and everyone knew Richo. He was as comfortable in the circles of the powerful, the famous and the wealthy as he was in the front bar.
“That was the thing about Richo – he could talk to anyone and, importantly, listen to anyone as well.”
Early attendees at St James’ Church in Sydney’s CBD included new One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce and neurosurgeon Charlie Teo.
The service will feature tributes from Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, ambassador to the Holy See Keith Pitt, and former prime minister Tony Abbott.
Other mourners included broadcaster Alan Jones, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Nationals senator Matt Canavan, former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and billionaire Gretel Packer. Jones and Richardson co-hosted the Sky News program Richo + Jones until Richardson’s declining health saw him replaced by Mark Latham.
Richardson entered the Senate in 1983 and went on to serve in Cabinet under both Bob Hawke and Paul Keating.
He was considered instrumental in Hawke’s rise to the prime ministership, as well as the 1991 leadership challenge that saw Keating take the top job.
After resigning from parliament in 1994, he became a political commentator and long-time contributor to Sky News Australia.
Despite serious health challenges, Richardson had vowed to stay alive long enough to see his son complete his final school exams.
“When he had his big health challenge, he said to his wife Amanda, ‘I’m going to live till I see Darcy finish exams and his HSC’,” 2GB host Ben Fordham told the station following Richardson’s death.
“Darcy did his last HSC exam on Thursday, which was his French exam. And Richo died this morning.”
The funeral is scheduled to begin at 11am.
The venue was shifted late last week from St Mary’s Cathedral to St James’ Anglican Church after the family expressed a wish for Richardson’s coffin to be draped with either the Australian flag or the flag of the St George Dragons, according to the Daily Telegraph.
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