Richard Morecroft, Australian TV Presenter, Dies at 70, Raising Questions About His “Chosen Death”

The death of television presenter Richard Morecroft, who was 70, has prompted renewed questions about how Voluntary Assisted Dying operates in Australia.

The ABC and SBS veteran, remembered for anchoring ABC News and hosting SBS’s Letters and Numbers, died on Tuesday “at a time of his choosing” after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

News of Morecroft’s death left some members of the public uncertain about whether he had legally chosen to end his life.

“Is assisted dying legal in Australia?” one person asked online, while another wrote: “Is this legal?”

Some also questioned whether the term “euthanasia” accurately described the process.

In New South Wales, where Morecroft lived, the legal framework for ending one’s life with medical assistance is known as Voluntary Assisted Dying, or VAD.

VAD has been available in NSW as a legal end-of-life option since November 2023, following the introduction of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022.

Voluntary Assisted Dying is now legal in most Australian states, while the Northern Territory became the final jurisdiction to pass legislation in August this year.

The Northern Territory’s VAD program is expected to begin being introduced in 2028.

The scheme enables an eligible person with an advanced and terminal illness to receive medical assistance to bring about their death.

The prescribed medication may be administered by a doctor or nurse, or taken by the eligible person themselves.

Applicants must satisfy a range of conditions, including having an advanced, progressive disease or medical condition. They must also undergo formal assessments by two independent medical practitioners.

Morecroft’s family announced his death in a tribute shared on his Instagram account on Tuesday evening.

“Sadly, our beloved Richard died today, at a time of his choosing, on the south coast of NSW,” the statement said.

“He was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and was grateful to go peacefully, with his partner of 36 years, Alison Mackay, beside him.”

The family tribute continued: “We are devastated to lose such a warm, generous and caring human and hope that all those who knew him, if only through their TV screens, will remember him fondly.

“Vale Richard Morecroft 20/01/56 – 06/10/26”.

Richard’s former Letters and Numbers co-star Lily Serna paid tribute to him on Wednesday, sharing a number of unseen images documenting the media legend’s more private side. 

‘Such a rare and wonderful man. I was lucky enough to land my first TV gig with Richard and he showed me the ropes with such grace and patience,’ she wrote in a post on Instagram. 

‘He was a TV veteran who was humble, kind and so generous with his time and knowledge, loved by cast and crew alike. 

‘There was so much more to him than the news anchor people knew him as. 

‘He was fun, adventurous, quirky and enthusiastic. He was an artist and photographer, always finding patterns in nature, and an eco warrior with a deep love for animals and the natural world. 

‘I’ll treasure our conversations about the meaning of art and his patience with my maths brain trying to make sense of it all. I’ll treasure our friendship always.’

Born in Leicestershire, England, and moving to Adelaide as a child, Morecroft forged a career as one of Australia’s most respected television journalists.

After a stint in radio, Morecroft joined the ABC in the 1980s, making his mark as an anchor for ABC News NSW, a role he kept for almost 20 years. 

Between 2010 and 2012, Morecroft was the host of game show Letters and Numbers on SBS Television.

Morecroft also made a mark as an author, with his memoir, 20 Years from the Waist Up: Tales of a TV News Anchor, published in 2002.

He additionally authored a number of children’s titles, created in collaboration with his partner, Alison. 

Richard was so recognisable as a steadfast news anchor that he made cameos, as himself, in a series of TV shows and movies, including Muriel’s Wedding, Lantana and Police Rescue. 

In later years, Morecroft became associated with environmental issues as a trustee of the World Wide Fund for Nature and a patron of WIRES, as well as working with the Taronga Foundation and the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales.