Australia is mourning the loss of Peter Ryan, one of the ABC’s most respected journalists. After more than 45 years in journalism, Ryan died at age 64 following a long battle with metastatic thyroid cancer. His family confirmed his passing “just weeks after a farewell that no one wanted to witness.” He had retired in June to spend his remaining time with his wife Mary Cotter and daughter Charlotte.

ABC News director Justin Stevens said Ryan left a “significant legacy,” noting that “through his mentorship, friendship, and professionalism, he directly touched the lives of many at the ABC.” He added that “through his journalism, he had a profound impact on the lives of Australians and our society.”

Colleagues described Ryan as a model of integrity. Former presenter Michael Rowland said he “represented the very best of the ABC,” praising him as “scrupulously fair” and “committed to accuracy and facts.” Rowland added, “There was never any agenda in his reporting… I learnt so much from him.”

Ryan began his career as a copyboy at the Daily Mirror in 1980, recalling: “We were still printing newspapers off hot metal. People were smoking in newsrooms and there was a lot of yelling.” He joined the ABC in 1984, a moment he said made his parents “absolutely delighted.”

Throughout his career, Ryan held major roles including Washington bureau chief, head of TV news in Victoria, and founding editor of Lateline Business. From 2016 onward, he served as the ABC’s senior business correspondent, helping Australians make sense of the nation’s most important economic stories.