\’I\’m Going to Live Till I See D\’Arcy Finish Exams\’: Graham Richardson Dies Days After Son\’s HSC Milestone

In a bittersweet conclusion to a long and public life, former Labor Senator and political commentator Graham Richardson has died at the age of 76, just hours after his youngest son reached a major life milestone.

Richardson, known as \”Richo\” to many, passed away at 3.50 am, having battled influenza and pneumonia since September. For more than two decades, he had also fought chondrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer diagnosed in 1999.

Radio host Ben Fordham shared an emotional detail about Richardson\’s final weeks, revealed by his wife, Amanda, and teenage son, D\’Arcy.

During his health challenge, Richardson made a deeply personal vow: \”I\’m going to live till I see D\’Arcy finish exams and his HSC.\”

D\’Arcy completed his final HSC exam—French—on Thursday. Richo died early Saturday morning, having successfully kept his promise to his son.

\”I\’ve lost the love of my life. D\’Arcy\’s lost the greatest dad and Australia\’s lost one of its best,\” his wife Amanda said in a statement.

Born in Sydney in 1945, Richardson was a political force from an early age, famously earning the nickname the \”senator for kneecaps\” for his hardline reputation as the numbers man for the Labor Right. His political career included roles as a NSW Senator and a Minister in the Hawke and Keating governments.

Even in later years, after retiring from the Senate due to health problems, Richardson remained engaged, transitioning into a respected, if opinionated, media commentator. It was during this time that he expressed his ultimate ambition for his son in a 2017 interview:

\”I want him to be Prime Minister. If I hang around long enough, I reckon I could manage it. I could get him there.\”

Tributes from figures like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described him as a \”larger-than-life character,\” acknowledge the powerful blend of controversy, pragmatism, and immense loyalty that defined Graham Richardson\’s time in the Australian political landscape.

For a look back at the life and immense political sway of Graham Richardson, including his time as a major political figure, you can watch