ABC broadcaster Peter Thompson has died aged 73. The Australian presenter, who had Parkinson's disease, recently contracted pneumonia and died in a hospital in Sydney on Friday. His family confirmed the death to ABC on Monday.
Career in radio and television
Thompson's career began in radio as a sports broadcaster in 1970 at 2LF. After moving to Tasmania, he worked across a number of stations and hosted the TV current affairs programme This Day Tonight. In 1987, he joined ABC and became the host of Drivetime for ABC Radio Sydney.
Environmental campaigning
Thompson was an environmental campaigner and helped preserve the Tasmanian Franklin River by campaigning in the early 1980s. His friend and fellow environmentalist Bob Brown said: "Peter made his mark as the Australian Conservation Foundation's campaigner to stop the Franklin River dam in the early 1980s."
Brown added: "He was an early advocate and media star who had a pivotal role in saving the Franklin River wilderness. Appalled by the flooding of Lake Pedder, he won public debates with advocates for damming the Franklin River, including former Labor Premier 'Electric' Eric Reese."
Thompson is survived by his partner Jane Rowe and daughter Alexa.
