Graham “Richo” Richardson , the Labor powerbroker of yore, once described the adrenaline rush of being Bob Hawke’s numbers man as “better than sex and almost as exciting as a good feed”. Richo’s heyday may have passed, but the appetite for a long lunch never wanes. CBD’s spies spotted the former minister celebrating his 75th birthday in typical fashion – surrounded by a posse of influential friends from around town at the Malaya at King Street Wharf (a fancier way of saying Darling Harbour).
Seated next to the man of the hour was former NSW premier turned captain’s pick foreign minister Bob Carr , who with Richo and Paul Keating were part of a cadre of Labor right warriors known, rather creatively, as “The Mates”. Other mates from that faction who turned up at the Richo fest included Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke , and Sam Crosby , head of Labor-aligned think tank the McKell Institute and husband of rising star state Housing Minister Rose Jackson . CBD hears Crosby has his sights set on replacing retiring Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney as the next member for Barton, the seat adjoining Burke’s.
It wasn’t just Labor mates. Also making an appearance were former Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates (an old mate), the human hairdo Richard Wilkins , entertainment editor at Nine (owner of this masthead) as well as former Socceroo Mark Bosnich and ex-NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller . The boys celebrated with a chocolate cake ado.