Leading figures from across the political spectrum have gathered to bid farewell to one of Australia’s most notorious kingmakers.
Labor prime minister Anthony Albanese, one of his Liberal predecessors Tony Abbott and ex-Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce – fresh from his defection to One Nation – were among the attendees at Tuesday’s state funeral for Graham Richardson.
The former Labor heavyweight, whose political career was plagued by corruption scandals and factionalist plays, died in November aged 76.
Despite his controversial legacy, he has remained a revered figure to many in Labor circles and beyond, with Mr Joyce paying tribute to his “absolute and utter ruthlessness”.
“In politics, there are people with fire extinguishers and people with cans of petrol,” he 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.”
The prime minister is expected to deliver a eulogy for his former Labor colleague, while tributes will be led by Defence Minister Richard Marles and former Nationals MP Keith Pitt.
Shortly after his death, Mr Albanese praised the ex-senator as a Labor legend, hailing his work protecting critical natural sites including the Daintree Rainforest during his time as environment minister.
But Mr Richardson, who had a colourful and sometimes controversial career as a politician and minister during the Hawke and Keating governments, was more widely known for his factional wheeling and dealing.
He was dubbed the “minister for kneecaps” after a chequered tenure in politics, which he harnessed as an acerbic commentator on conservative TV network Sky News.
Despite his reputation for ruthlessness, praise for Mr Richardson extended across politics from former prime ministers to Greens stalwart Bob Brown.
His autobiography was named after his self-professed approach to politics: Whatever it Takes.
The hard-nosed warrior was embroiled in several investigations by the NSW corruption watchdog in 2009 and 2014 involving property deals.
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.
Mr Richardson had to resign as minister in 1992 because of his leveraging of political influence to help a relative secure a business deal in the Marshall Islands.
The relative was later jailed for running a scam.
The ornery 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.
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