Graham Frederick ('Ritcho') Richardson was born in Camperdown, NSW on 27 September 1949 and attended Marist Brothers College, Kogarah and Sydney Technical High School. He later studied law at the University of Sydney.

In 1971, at the age of 21, Graham Richardson was elected State Organiser of the NSW Branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He subsequently held other senior party positions, including General Secretary, NSW Branch (1976-83), Member, National Executive (from 1979) and Vice-President (1986). He was elected to Commonwealth Parliament as an ALP Senator for NSW in March 1983 (term deemed to have begun July 1982). He was re-elected in 1984, 1987 and 1993, resigning in March 1994.

In the Hawke Government, Graham Richardson was Minister for the Environment and the Arts (1987-88), Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories (1988-90) and Minister for Social Security (1990-91). In the subsequent Keating Government, he was Minister for Transport and Communications (1991-92), Minister for Health (1993-94) and Minister for the Environment, Sport and Territories (1994). Richardson also served on Parliamentary Committees relating to Finance and Government Operations, Regulations and Ordinances (1983-85), Electoral Reform (1983-87), Senate Estimates (1983-87 and 1992), National Resources (1985-87), Television Equalisation (1986-87) and was Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council (1991-92).

Since leaving politics, Graham Richardson has become well-known as a radio and television commentator and was active in the organisation of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, including as Mayor of the Olympic Village.

Sources:
Parliamentary Handbook, 26th ed (1993) and 27th ed (1996)
Who's Who in Australia 2003