PM eulogises corruption-tainted political playmaker
Kat Wong and Farid Farid |
A cut-throat kingmaker known for shifting the pieces of Australia’s political chessboard has been remembered by those who played the game.
The nation’s biggest political figures gathered in Sydney on Tuesday to pay tribute to Graham Richardson at his state funeral.
The former Labor heavyweight, whose political career was defined by corruption scandals and factional plays, died in November aged 76.
Despite his controversial legacy, or perhaps because of it, Richardson was a singular figure to many, especially in Labor circles.
“It’s no secret that he played his politics hard,” Labor prime minister Anthony Albanese said during his eulogy.
“He was never one to consider losing as a valid option.
“But he could put old grudges and grievances aside, as we can see from the attendance here.”
Former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott, cabinet ministers Tanya Plibersek and Michelle Rowland and ex-coalition treasurer Joe Hockey were among those who packed into the sweltering pews of St James’ Church to honour the late senator.
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce – fresh off his defection to One Nation – also attended.
Mr Richardson had a colourful and sometimes controversial career as a politician and minister during the Hawke and Keating governments.
The prime minister sung his praises, calling him a “Labor legend” as he hailed the former environment minister’s work protecting natural sites like the Daintree Rainforest.
But the senator was more widely known for his factional wheeling and dealing, earning him the title “minister for kneecaps”.
He acknowledged his place in the arena by naming his autobiography Whatever It Takes.
Friends and former colleagues spoke of notorious long lunches and behind-the-scenes moves that altered the composition of the Labor party.
Mr Richardson’s wife Amanda Richardson even conceded her husband would not have loved all of those in attendance on Tuesday.
In some ways, the senator’s “absolute and utter ruthlessness” was what earnt him respect from all corners of Australian politics.
“In politics, there are people with fire extinguishers and people with cans of petrol,” Mr Joyce told reporters outside St James’ Church.
“That man had a can of petrol and if you were on the wrong side of him, you got burned badly.
“He, like all of us, had his sins, but on the balance of things, he is a great guy.”
Mr Richardson had to resign as minister in 1992 after leveraging his political influence to help a relative secure a business deal in the Marshall Islands.
The relative was later jailed for running a scam.
He was also implicated in the 1999 “cash for comments” saga where prominent radio hosts such as Alan Jones and recently deceased John Laws were found to have promoted firms without disclosing the conflict of interest.
The hard-nosed warrior was embroiled in several investigations by the NSW corruption watchdog in 2009 and 2014 involving property deals.
After his political career, he maintained a public profile as an acerbic commentator for conservative outlets Sky News and The Australian.
Those closest to him offered tales from outside the political bubble, highlighting his love for the Illawarra Dragons as they told of a near-miss with death that led Mr Richardson to receive his last rites twice as a teenager, and his ardent commitment to family.
“No matter how sick, how frail, Dad made the effort to be there for me,” his son D’Arcy Richardson said.
The deal-maker had been unwell for a long period before his death and in 2016 underwent a marathon surgery as he battled chondrosarcoma, a rare form of cancer.
AAP
