‘Absolute legend': Veteran journo dead at 64
The journalist, who worked as a reporter for 45 years with the ABC, was diagnosed with metastatic thyroid cancer in 2014.
He died in Sydney on Friday night, his family confirmed. He was 64. Peter Ryan has died at the age of 64 after a battle with thyroid cancer. ABC Credit: ABC
Over the course of has 45-year career in journalism, Ryan spanned multiple roles.
He began as a cadet and copyboy at the Sydney Daily Mirror before moving to the ABC, where he worked as the head of TV news and current affairs in Victoria and was the ABC Washington bureau chief.
He was also the founding editor of Lateline Business in 2006 that became The Business in 2012.
Ryan won the Walkley Award in 2017 for his coverage of the Commonwealth Bank scandal that involved millions of dollars flowing through to drug syndicates from the bank's intelligent deposit machines.
He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2022 for his service to journalism.
Working as senior business correspondent from 2016, Ryan retired from his role in June and moved into palliative care, opting to spend more time with his wife Marry Cotter and daughter Charlotte.
Upon Ryan's retirement, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the ABC journalist was an 'absolute legend'.
'Every day as you wake up and you think about what's happening in the economy, if you only needed to listen to one voice to be sure that you got its essential elements, it would be Peter's,' he said. The journalist is remembered for his hard work and dedication to his craft. ABC Credit: ABC
Former ABC Breakfast host Michael Rowland paid tribute to Ryan on Sunday evening, describing him as an 'unrivalled' reporter who was 'courageous' in his journalism and a 'generous mentor'.
'He had a big impact on so many ABC careers,' Rowland penned online. 'We've all lost a good one.'
ABC News senior director Justin Stevens said Ryan left behind a 'significant legacy'.
'Through his mentorship, friendship, and professionalism, he directly touched the lives of many at the ABC,' he said.
'Through his journalism, he had a profound impact on the lives of Australians and our society.
'It was a privilege to know him and work alongside him.' The veteran reporter offered helpful advice to budding journalists before his retirement. picture: ABC Credit: ABC
Before his retirement in 2025, the journalist offered a piece of advice to other budding reporters.
'Avoid cynicism – be passionate. A good team can often be a very small team – I've worked in some of the best,' he said.
'Be proactive – come to the table with a great story so no one else comes up with a dud that might waste your time.
'Work closely with top people – shut up and absorb like a sponge.
'Maintain a fastidious contact book – some low-profile contacts could soon move into higher powered roles or more importantly work in backrooms where the big decisions are often made.
'Show up to work early and prove that you're ready to take on the big story of the day.
'Try to have a Plan B in your back pocket just in case your original brilliant idea doesn't go anywhere and the EP comes walking your way.
'Finally, be kind and caring to people who need it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
a minute ago
- West Australian
Private healthcare giant Ramsay shuts psychology clinics
The country's biggest private hospital company will shut the majority of its psychology clinics in a matter of months. Ramsay Health Care notified staff of the closure of 17 of its 20 clinics earlier this month. The three remaining clinics are in the Newcastle suburb of Charlestown, in Perth's northern suburbs, and in Cairns. 'We understand this change might be unsettling and we are working closely with our psychologists to ensure every client is supported and has continuity of care, whether through our existing and expanded Telehealth service or with another trusted provider, depending on what is clinically appropriate,' a spokesperson said. 'This change is part of Ramsay's broader strategy to strengthen how we deliver high-quality, accessible and connected care across hospital, home and virtual settings.' Only Ramsay's community-based psychology clinics are closing, not its hospital mental health services or inpatient and day programs. Federal Greens leader Larissa Waters said half of Australians who needed mental health support already could not get it. 'The waiting lists are huge, and so it's devastating to see that a private healthcare operator is going to close down yet more facilities, and where are those people going to go?' she said. 'Health care shouldn't be for profit, and it shouldn't be how much money you've got on your credit card to enable you to get the health care that you need. 'So it's a real shame that profit seems to be driving this outcome that will have a real impact.' Ramsay Health is listed on the Australian sharemarket and valued at $8.9bn. The company's share price is down 16 per cent over the past 12 months. In August, Ramsay Health Care reported a nearly triple full-year profit of $888.7m, up from $298.1m the year before. The large return was mostly due to the sale of Ramsay's stake in Ramsay Sime Darby, which owns hospitals in Malaysia and Indonesia. The financial results gave shareholders an 80 cent dividend per share across the financial year. 'The government should be providing healthcare services as a universal right of all Australians, and it shouldn't be whether or not a private company's profit margin is going to work to determine the outcomes for Australians' access to mental health care,' Ms Waters said. The 17 clinics are being shut progressively until the final one closes the doors permanently by the end of August. Four Melbourne clinics are being shut, three in Sydney will close, two in Perth will shut, and single clinics on the Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, the Gold Coast, NSW's Central Coast and Wollongong will close. 'After careful consideration, we are transitioning Ramsay Psychology to a more flexible and sustainable model, which includes the progressive closure of 17 clinics by the end of August,' the Ramsay spokesperson said. 'Three clinics, in Cairns (QLD), Charlestown (NSW) and Joondalup (WA), will remain open to support local needs, maintain key partnerships and pilot more integrated models of care. 'Ramsay Health Care is reshaping how it delivers community-based mental health support to better meet the evolving needs of clients and clinicians.' The National Mental Health Commission's National Report Card was also released on Thursday, the same day as news of the Ramsay closures broke. Health commission chief executive David McGrath said fewer and fewer people could afford mental health care. 'We have also seen a steady rise in financial stress and in the proportion of people in Australia delaying mental health care due to cost in the last four years,' Mr McGrath said in the report. 'Disappointingly, many social factors impacting mental health are not showing improvement (e.g. loneliness and experiences of discrimination) and positive experiences of mental health care have remained stable.' People were feeling less secluded than in the previous year, the commission found, and more people were getting help now than in 2007. 'However, there is no question there is a long way to go – our younger generations continue to report heightened psychological distress and financial stress and have a much higher prevalence of mental health challenges relative to the rest of the population,' Mr McGrath said.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Push to delay penalty rates ban
The Coalition has indicated it will delay Labor's proposed laws to ban the reduction of penalty and overtime rates in modern awards, with Liberal MP Tim Wilson stating more information was needed on the impact on small businesses. A new Bill, which was introduced by Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth on Thursday, will also override the Fair Work Commission (FWC) from substituting the entitlements if it reduces the overall take-home pay of even a single worker on a modern award. However, Mr Wilson, the Coalition's small business and industrial relations spokesman, accused Labor of trying to 'ram' the legislation through parliament and signalled the opposition was likely to push the Bill to an inquiry. While he confirmed he'd reviewed the legislation, Mr Wilson said Ms Rishworth was still unable to answer how the Bill would affect small businesses. 'There is a simple reality. There are no penalty rates on jobs that do not exist,' he said. Tim Wilson said small businesses needed to be consulted on the proposed Bill. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'The Coalition supports penalty rates. We support higher wages … but that isn't what we're getting from this government with their approach, where their focus is how they do their pay-offs as part of their legislative victory lap, rather than focusing on how to improve the economic conditions that list the standards of living and the wages of Australians.' While Mr Wilson said the Coalition would 'obviously talk to parties from across the parliament', the opposition had yet to take a firm stance on the Bill. Ms Rishworth urged the Coalition and Greens to support the legislation and said it was a 'key commitment' Labor took to the election. 'My message to the opposition is that they need to listen to the decision of the Australian people,' she said. 'The Australian people clearly back this government to get on with the job of getting wages moving and ensuring that Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn.' In response, Mr Wilson said it was proper and 'standard' process to get an 'assessment of the impact of legislation'. 'This is standard, so they can make the claims about what their mandate may be, it doesn't mean it gives them a right to override the standard processes of legislative passage,' he said. As it stands, Labor will need either support of the Greens or the Coalition if it is to pass the legislation in the Senate. Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth introduced the Bill on Thursday. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia While the Greens have confirmed the party has reviewed the legislation, it has yet to reach a position. Greens workplace relations spokeswoman Barbara Pocock said the party was having a 'close look' at the Bill and would make a decision 'in the coming days'. She also pushed for stronger workers' rights like a four-day work week without a reduction in pay. Responding to whether the Greens would support pushing the legislation to an inquiry, she said the party would consider all options. 'This is a no-cost bill for small business, as I read it, but as I said earlier, I've just received the Bill,' she said. 'We're having a close look, and we will want to make sure that there are no unintended consequences and that we get the best possible Bill that we can for some of Australia's most vulnerable workers.' The election promise was prompted by a FWC review prompted by the Australian Retailers Association to allow senior management to take a 25 per cent wage increase above minimum award entitlements in exchange for overtime, weekend and public holiday penalty rates and rest breaks. The submission has been backed by the supermarket giants, plus beauty giant Mecca, as well as Kmart, Costco and 7-Eleven.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
No Return: Australia's Missing Billions
The ATO is one of the most powerful and secretive institutions in the country, but for years, it's operated without effective scrutiny. In this major Four Corners investigation, award-winning financial journalists Neil Chenoweth and Angus Grigg reveal how inaction and flawed systems have allowed more than $50 billion in tax to go uncollected. They unpick how a simple scam, supercharged on social media, saw tens of thousands of Australians fraudulently claim at least $2 billion in GST refunds. They also show how corporate operators extracted millions more through fake invoices and phantom construction projects, often without triggering even basic checks. And they expose how deep cuts, digital automation and a lack of independent oversight has left one of Australia's most powerful institutions wide open to exploitation. Born of years of forensic reporting by two of Australia's most respected financial journalists in collaboration with the ABC's investigations team, No Return exposes systemic failures inside one of the nation's most opaque institutions. It demonstrates why every taxpayer should demand accountability from the very agency entrusted to uphold it. No Return, reported by Angus Grigg and Neil Chenoweth, and produced by Kyle Taylor, goes to air on Monday 28 July at 8:30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
