George Negus, a stalwart of Australian broadcast journalism, has passed away at the age of 82. Negus joined Channel 9 in the late 1970s and was one of the founding reporters for the current affairs program, '60 Minutes'. His distinctive style, gruff voice, and strong opinions made him a household name in Australia.

Negus conducted notable interviews with figures such as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, actor Meryl Streep, and Mother Teresa. During his eight-year tenure on '60 Minutes', Negus reported from numerous war zones and locations around the world, bringing global stories to Australian audiences.

Michael Healy, Nine's Director of Television, paid tribute to Negus, saying, "Today, Australia lost one of its greatest storytellers. When you watched a George Negus interview it was thoughtful, intelligent, composed. He was always in control."

Fiona Dear, Director of News and Current Affairs, also expressed her admiration for Negus, stating, "Like many Australians, I grew up watching George Negus every Sunday night on 60 Minutes. He opened Australia's eyes to the world, he took us to places we didn't know existed, and introduced us to the people who shaped society."

Kirsty Thomson, 60 Minutes Executive Producer, highlighted Negus' enduring legacy, "We are so proud to work at a program that's always been inspired by George's trailblazing journalism and globetrotting genius. His legacy lives on at 60 Minutes through his wonderful son Serge, a producer on the program, who continues to do what George loved most about his job: being able to tell great stories."