Richardson farewelled as a man who did whatever it took

True believer. Machine man. Political fixer. Factional hack. Labor giant. "Minister for kneecaps". Legend.

Graham Richardson, who died on Saturday morning aged 76, could be any one of these things, depending on who you talk to - or most of those things, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

In a statement on Mr Richardson's passing, Mr Albanese acknowledged that Richardson was "often colourful, and sometimes controversial".

But Mr Albanese emphasised Mr Richardson's sense of service, which he said was "underpinned by his powerful blend of passion and pragmatism".

He credited Mr Richardson for saving the rainforests of the Wet Tropics in far north Queensland, including the Daintree, during his tenure as environment minister in Bob Hawke's government.

He was backed up by Greens