Senior politicians past and present gathered at St James' Anglican Church in Sydney's CBD for the state funeral of former federal Labor minister Graham Richardson. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered the eulogy, describing the political heavyweight's extensive impact on Australian public life.
Mr Albanese spoke about Mr Richardson's many health battles, particularly in his later years. The prime minister said Mr Richardson promised his wife Amanda and son D'Arcy he would stay alive until D'Arcy finished his HSC and 'kept his word'.
Among the political figures attending were former prime minister Tony Abbott, former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Nationals senator Matt Canavan and Labor senator Tony Sheldon. Broadcasters and media figures also filled the church, including Alan Jones, Richard Wilkins, and Ben Fordham.
Vignettes delivered by friends and colleagues centred around long lunches at the Golden Century restaurant. His former chief of staff, David Tierney, described Mr Richardson as the 'master of the dark art of soy sauce diplomacy', saying 'when it came to fighting political battles, Graham's choice of weapon was the chopsticks'.
Mr Richardson died after weeks of influenza and pneumonia just over a month ago, aged 76. The former Labor powerbroker was president of NSW Labor and instrumental in installing Bob Hawke and later Paul Keating as party leaders. He served as minister for the environment, transport and communications before resigning in 1994 amid scandals and allegations of corruption.
His son D'Arcy shared a favourite story about his father's lunch with former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher during the Brisbane Expo. Draped in an Australian flag, Mr Richardson's coffin was escorted from the church by six pallbearers, including former footballer Mark Bosnich and former MP Joel Fitzgibbon.
