Veteran broadcaster and ex-senator Derryn Hinch dies at 82

Derryn Hinch, the veteran broadcaster and former federal senator known for his provocative style and relentless campaigning, has died at the age of 82. His death at his home was confirmed on Friday, July 10, 2026, by his longtime friend and former personal assistant, Annette Philpott. She attributed his passing to old age, noting he had been in and out of hospital recently and was assumed to have died in his sleep.

Hinch, who was born in New Zealand, spent more than four decades as a dominant figure in Australian media, primarily on radio in Sydney and Melbourne. He earned the moniker "the Human Headline" for his outspoken approach, which frequently tested legal boundaries in pursuit of justice, particularly for victims of crime. His career was defined by a series of high-profile contempt of court convictions. In 1987, he served 12 days in prison for naming a Catholic priest, Michael Glennon, who was facing child sex offence charges while running a youth camp. Hinch later called this incident the thing he was most proud of in his life. He was convicted again in 2011 for breaching suppression orders, resulting in five months of home detention, during which he continued...