Derryn Hinch, known for his resilience, is seated near his walking frame, recuperating from a “bad fall,” reflecting on life in a nursing home, and considering the option of voluntary assisted dying.
He admits he has only “a few years left” and there’s time for reflection, but no regrets.
For instance, he dislikes being labeled the “human headline,” believes he is rarely wrong, acknowledges his inconsistency, concedes to being an alcoholic yet continues to drink, mentions being falsely accused of rape as one of his hardest experiences, and insists he isn’t arrogant, which might astonish some.
Now 81, after four marriages, 17 job terminations, three imprisonments, numerous close encounters with death, and years of abusing his liver, Hinch remains fiercely competitive, preparing for critiques he expected would arise in this conversation.
It is here, surrounded by personal memorabilia, that he reads, sleeps, does puzzles and “cloud watches”.
It’s an age away from the opening nights, long lunches, Rolls-Royces and pay cheques which today would still be staggering.
I’ve had many disagreements with Hinch over the years.
He expressed few regrets as we revisited past reports, especially those concerning the deaths of cricket legend David Hookes and TV icon Graham Kennedy.
On the day of Hookes’ funeral, Hinch broadcast that the cricketer had a girlfriend many didn’t know about.
He claimed on-air Graham Kennedy “died with AIDS”, which he now admits was “a mistake ” and says he has apologised.
Admitting he was wrong does not come easily.
Hinch often said, “all history owes the dead is the truth,” whereas I maintained that publishing required weighing benefit against harm.
He was profoundly affected by losing his Senate position after just three years but extremely proud of his role in enacting legislation to prevent international travel by sex offenders.
As a commentator and a senator he has seen many politicians first hand: he gets on well with Anthony Albanese, thinks John Howard was a good leader, is very fond of Malcom Turnbull, thinks Bob Hawke was not a nice man, and Jeff Kennett is an enigma.
Hinch has been seriously broke, with less than $20 available at the ATM.
He has been very rich, and once owned two Rolls-Royces, one for himself and one for then wife Jacqui Weaver.
They were different colours, he says.
There’s no doubt he’s been a trouble magnet, a larger than life tabloid journalist at times ahead of his time and at times infuriating with his uncompromising views.
In that sense, age hasn’t changed him.
In Derryn’s world, there are rarely shades of grey.
Lack of confidence has never been his problem, although he does say the nickname “human headline” seems “narcissistic”.
This is how our discussion ended:
MITCHELL: You have no self-doubt. You stand by things you’ve done. You don’t really see many mistakes in your life. Do you think you’re arrogant?
HINCH: That’s for you to decide.
MITCHELL: That’s a political answer. You’re back in the bloody Senate. What do you think?
HINCH: I don’t think it’s arrogant. I think it’s just confidence.
MITCHELL: What’s the difference?
HINCH: Donald Trump is arrogant. I’m self-confident.
Neil Mitchell is a news analyst and podcaster. Neil Mitchell asks Why? is posted each Tuesday.
