Tributes are pouring in for beloved ABC stalwart Peter Ryan, who has died at 64 just weeks after retiring from a celebrated 45-year career in journalism.

Walkley Award-winning journalist and long-time ABC correspondent Peter Ryan has died at the age of 64, following a long battle with metastatic thyroid cancer.

The beloved broadcaster passed away in Sydney on Friday night, just weeks after retiring from the ABC and entering palliative care.

He had worked with the national broadcaster for 45 years.

Veteran ABC reporter Peter Ryan has died at the age of 64, after a batlte with thyroid cancer. Picture: ABC

Ryan was first diagnosed with the disease in 2014, but continued to build a remarkable career at the national broadcaster before stepping back in June to spend time with his wife, Mary Cotter, and daughter, Charlotte.

He served as the ABC’s senior business correspondent from 2016, a role in which he became a trusted voice on economic affairs.

His journalism career began straight out of school at the age of 18, when he landed a job in 1980 as a copyboy and cadet at Sydney’s Daily Mirror.

Peter worked with the ABC for 45 years and called it his ‘spiritual home’. Picture: ABC

But it was at the ABC, which he called his “spiritual home”, where he truly made his mark, contributing to flagship radio programs including AM, The World Today, and PM.

His 2017 investigation into the Commonwealth Bank scandal, which revealed how deposit machines were being exploited by drug syndicates to launder millions, earned him a prestigious Walkley Award.

In 2022, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to journalism.

The ABC paid tribute to Ryan on Saturday, remembering him as a dedicated and much-loved figure in the newsroom.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ABC Australia (@abcaustralia)

“The ABC is deeply saddened by the death of our great friend and esteemed colleague Peter Ryan,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

“After a distinguished 45-year career in journalism Peter retired from the ABC last month due to ill health. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Peter’s family.”

ABC News Director Justin Stevens described Ryan’s impact on Australian journalism as “profound”.

Peter served as the ABC’s senior business correspondent from 2016 until June 2025. Picture: ABC

“Through his mentorship, friendship, and professionalism, he directly touched the lives of many at the ABC,” Stevens 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.”

Former ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland also paid tribute on LinkedIn, describing Ryan as “a distinguished ABC Washington bureau chief and, later, one of Australia’s pre-eminent business journalists.”

“If you wanted to know what was going on in corporate Australia, Peter was your man. His contacts and record of story-breaking were unrivalled,” Rowland said.

He praised Ryan’s “courageous journalism” as well as his generosity as a mentor and leader, saying: “He had a big impact on so many ABC careers, including mine.

“When I last saw him in hospital a few weeks ago, Peter was full of old stories and good cheer, despite his health challenges.

“We’ve all lost a good one.”

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers also honoured Ryan at the time of his retirement, calling him “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,” Chalmers said.

In a final message shared with ABC staff upon his retirement, Ryan left a note with advice for “younger and older colleagues alike”.

Among his parting words were: “Be kind and caring to people who need it.”

Peter Ryan is survived by his wife Mary and daughter Charlotte.