of 82 following a battle with Alzheimerโs disease, his family said in a statement.
The statement said Negus โpassed away peacefully surrounded by loved onesโ and thanked Australian healthcare workers for supporting him โin the best possible wayโ during his final moments.
โDespite the challenges diseases like Alzheimerโs inflict on families, we still shared beautiful times, laughter and happiness together in recent times.
โWe also learnt a lot.โ
Negus began his journalistic career writing for The Australian and The Australian Financial Review.
He first gained notoriety whileย working as attorney-general Lionel Murphyโs press secretaryย during the Whitlam government-era, when he leaked an imminent investigation into ASIO headquarters. The event was dubbed the 1973 Murphy raids.
Negus rose to prominence as a reporter for ABCโs This Day Tonight, later serving as a founding correspondent for 60 Minutes and co-host for Today Australia.
In 1992, Negus presented the first episode of ABCโs Foreign Correspondent. He would continue with the program until 1999.
He will also be remembered as a mainstay on Dateline and The 7PM Project, and host of ABCโs George Negus Tonight and Tenโs 6:30 with George Negus.
Negus was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015 and was honoured for his significant service to the media as a journalist and television presenter, and to conservation and the environment.
โWhile we know he will be celebrated for his unique contribution to journalism, football, and the environment, he would also want to be remembered for the incredible family man he was,โ his familyโs statement read.
