‘Absolute legend': Veteran ABC journalist Peter Ryan dies at 64 after battle with cancer
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.
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.
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.'
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

News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Labor to introduce Bill to cap PBS-listed scripts at $25, PM dodges questions on super tax
Labor will begin its first steps to legislate its election promise to cap the cost of scripts listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to $25 from January 1 of next year. Once passed, eligible medicines will be lowered from $31.60 to $25. The government estimates the change will save Australians $200m a year, while costing the budget $690m over four years. This is in addition to previous reforms which allowed patients to acquire 60-day prescriptions, and freezing the cost of medicine for pension and concession card holders at $7.70 until the end of 2029. The election pledge was also matched by the Coalition, suggesting the Bill will likely have a swift passage through parliament. Anthony Albanese said it was a promise delivered. 'This is another example of cost of living relief that helps every Australian,' Mr Albanese said. 'The size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your healthcare. My government will continue to deliver cost of living relief for all Australians.' Health Minister Mark Bulter also welcomed the incoming Bill. 'Cheaper medicines are good for the hip pocket and good for your health,' Mr Butler said. 'For general patients medicines haven't been this cheap since 2004. 'For pension and concession card holders we've frozen your medicine prices at a maximum price of $7.70 until the end of the decade.' The Bill comes as the United States lashed Australia's PBS as 'discriminatory' amid tariff negotiations to remove the general 10 per cent levy, as well as fees on Australian steel and aluminium US imports. Concerningly, US President Donald Trump has also flagged a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceutical imports, which could have a major impact on $2bn of Australian exports. However the Albanese government said it is unwilling to use the PBS as a bargaining chip. On Sunday, Mr Albanese also faced a grilling over when Labor would introduce its proposed plan to double the tax on superannuation accounts over $3m up to 30 per cent. He said the Bill 'will come in time' and that the priority in the first fortnight was policies 'that make a difference to people's money in their pocket'. Perth MP and assistant minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman said the government had been 'clear about our priorities' for the Bill and said he was 'confident it will pass'. 'I think we have seen in this building, time and time again, that when it comes to getting things through parliament, you have got to also let the parliamentary processes do their piece,' he said.

News.com.au
9 hours ago
- News.com.au
Balwyn North home sells for $2.975m after auction showdown
A six-way auction showdown has seen a single-level Balwyn North home sell for $2.975m, topping Melbourne's PropTrack weekend auction results. The impeccably maintained home at 9 Macedon Ave drew a crowd of about 60 onlookers and sparked fierce competition from families and downsizers alike, with six bidders pushing well beyond expectations. The campaign attracted nearly 100 groups through the door, many drawn by its rare blend of low-maintenance luxury, flexible living, and proximity to both North Balwyn Village and the Balwyn High School Zone, one of the city's most coveted catchments. Revealed: The Block's priciest mistakes Fletchers Balwyn director Daiman Kane said the home was 'as move-in ready as it gets' and hadn't changed hands in more than 20 years. 'It was very competitive, the moment bidding opened it was game on,' Mr Kane said. 'It's a beautifully kept, one-owner home, walking distance to shops, cafes, trams and one of Melbourne's best public schools. That kind of package just doesn't come up often.' The single-level floorplan was another major drawcard, particularly for buyers seeking downsizer-friendly living without sacrificing space or lifestyle. The home includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and multiple indoor-outdoor living zones, including an alfresco terrace surrounded by lush gardens, a water feature and a mini putting green. Inside, parquetry floors frame the open-plan family zone, anchored by a granite kitchen with Smeg and Miele appliances, a walk-in pantry, and abundant storage. Mr Kane said there wasn't a cent to spend on the home. 'The buyers loved that they could move straight in and enjoy everything, no renos, no compromises,' he said. The winning bidder, a single woman downsizing from a larger home, had been searching for the right property in the area and 'acted quickly' once she found it. 'She was absolutely ecstatic — and rightfully so,' Mr Kane said. 'For a downsizer who still wants space, garden, and walkability, this was the perfect match.' The Fletchers Balwyn director said the result was a clear signal that quality listings is in short supply, and buyers are willing to stretch for the right property. 'Winter's actually proving to be a great time to sell,' Mr Kane said. 'There's less on the market, but the buyer pool is still strong, and good homes are being snapped up fast.' With a potential interest rate cut tipped by the Reserve Bank next month, Mr Kane said momentum was building across Melbourne's established suburbs. 'If you're a buyer waiting for the perfect conditions, this might be your window,' he said. 'Confidence is definitely returning, and we're already seeing that reflected in competition and results.' PropTrack data shows Melbourne home values rose 1 per cent in June, with buyer urgency and low stock levels combining to drive strong winter clearance rates, a trend expected to accelerate in spring. 'You can really feel the energy starting to shift,' Mr Kane said. 'We're on the upswing, and there's still time to catch the wave.'


SBS Australia
9 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Google threatens to sue if YouTube is included in Australia's kids social media ban
Google has been warned threats to sue won't sway the potential late inclusion of YouTube in Australia's world-first social media ban for children. The tech giant wrote to Communications Minister Anika Wells declaring it was considering its legal position if its video sharing platform was included in the ban for children 16 and under. The letter, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, flagged the ban could be challenged on the grounds it restricts the implied constitutional freedom of political communication. Signals the Australian government was contemplating an "abrupt policy reversal" prompted Google to seek further clarity. "YouTube is a video sharing platform, not a social media service, that offers benefit and value to younger Australians," a YouTube spokesperson said. "We have written directly to the government, urging them to uphold the integrity of the legislative process and protect the age-appropriate experiences and safeguards we provide for young Australians." The social media ban is due to come into effect in December. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat were among platforms covered when legislation passed parliament. YouTube was exempted, in a move TikTok described as a "sweetheart deal". But e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has recommended a rethink, citing research showing children were exposed to harmful content on YouTube more than any other platform. Children are exposed to harmful content on YouTube, e-safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch "The new law will only restrict children under the age of 16 from having their own accounts - not accessing content on YouTube or any other service through links from the school or in a 'logged-out' state," she told the National Press Club in June. "There is nothing in the legislation that prevents educators with their own accounts from continuing to incorporate school-approved educational content on YouTube or any other service just as they do now." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took a dim view of Google's attempt to muscle in on the decision-making process. "The minister will make these assessments ... independent of any these threats that are made by the social media companies," he told ABC TV on Sunday. "I say to them that social media has a social responsibility. A YouGov poll suggested widespread support for the ban. "There is no doubt that young people are being impacted adversely in their mental health by some of the engagement with social media and that is why the government has acted." The early findings of an age-verification trial found technologies could block young kids from social media platforms, but not without loopholes. Platforms will face penalties worth up to $50 million if caught not taking reasonable steps to prevent children 16 and under from creating accounts.