Derryn Hinch

Derryn Hinch
Derryn Hinch
Born	February 9, 1944 (age 82); New Zealand
Occupation(s)	Media figure, politician, journalist, actor, writer
Years active	1960–present
Known for	Senator for Victoria (2016–2019), Derryn Hinch's Justice Party leader, radio and television presenter

Derryn Nigel Hinch (born 9 February 1944) is a media figure, politician, journalist, actor, and writer originally from New Zealand, best recognized for his extensive work in Australian radio and television. He represented Victoria as a Senator from 2016 until 2019.

At the 2016 federal election, Hinch secured a Senate seat for Victoria as the leader of Derryn Hinch's Justice Party. At 72 years old, he became the oldest individual to be elected to federal parliament for the first time. He was unsuccessful in retaining his seat at the 2019 election.

Until the official commencement of the election campaign, Hinch presented the weekly show Hinch Live, a move endorsed by Sky News Live. Additionally, he was the host of Drive on 3AW radio and contributed as a National Public Affairs commentator for the Seven Network on programs such as Sunday Night, Today Tonight, and Sunrise.

Hinch has faced legal consequences on three occasions for contempt of court, resulting in two imprisonment periods and one sentence of home detention.

Print

Hinch’s journalism career began at age 15 when he worked for the Taranaki Herald in New Plymouth, New Zealand, starting in 1960. In 1963, he relocated to Australia aboard the MS Wanganella, joining Sydney’s The Sun. By 1966, he was employed as a foreign correspondent with Fairfax, eventually becoming their New York bureau chief in 1972, a position he held for 11 years. He returned to Sydney to serve as editor of The Sun from 1976 to 1977.

Television

Between 1982 and 1983, Hinch presented Beauty and the Beast on the Seven Network. From 1987 through 1991, he fronted his own current affairs program, Hinch, initially on Seven Network before it transitioned to Network Ten for its run from 1992 to 1994. In 1994, Hinch moved to the Nine Network to host The Midday Show for one year. His television appearances also include participation in Dancing with the Stars, acting roles in Underbelly, and guest spots on Millionaire Hot Seat supporting charitable causes.

In September 2012, Hinch returned to Seven Network as a national public affairs commentator amid rumors about reviving his eponymous show; however, this revival did not come to fruition. From February 2015 onward, he hosted a biweekly news commentary program titled Hinch Live on Sky News Australia.

Hinch, Seven Network (1987–1991), then Network Ten (1992–1994)
Beauty and the Beast, Seven Network (1982–1983)
The Midday Show, Nine Network (1994)
Mars Venus, Foxtel (2003)
Dancing with the Stars, Seven Network (2005)
Underbelly, Nine Network (2008)
National Public Affairs Commentator, Seven Network (2012–present)
Hinch Live, Sky News Australia (2015–2016)

Radio

In 1978, Hinch hosted a morning show on 3XY. The following year, he moved to 3AW, where he led a popular morning program for eight years before departing radio in 1987 to pursue television hosting duties with Hinch At Seven.

During the 1990s, he briefly hosted talkback segments on Adelaide’s 5DN, then returned to 3AW in 2000 to present Nightline. After spending two years at 3AK starting in 2001, he came back to 3AW in 2003 as host of their drive-time slot. His time there was intermittently interrupted by suspensions, health-related absences, and periods of house arrest. In August 2012, it was announced that Hinch’s contract with 3AW would not be renewed; financial commentator Tom Elliott succeeded him. He also acts as Melbourne correspondent for New Zealand’s Newstalk ZB, regularly offering political analysis.

In recognition of his contributions to radio broadcasting, Hinch was inducted into the Australian Commercial Radio Hall of Fame in 2010.

Acting

In September 2008, Hinch took on the role of The Criminologist (narrator) during the Australian tour of The Rocky Horror Show. He also appeared as himself in the 2000 movie The Wog Boy and reprised this role in its 2022 follow-up, Wog Boys Forever. Hinch made guest appearances on the television program Fast Forward, where he was humorously portrayed as Hunch by Steve Vizard. In 2016, he portrayed a senator in the film The Colour of Darkness.

Politics

In 2015, Hinch established Derryn Hinch's Justice Party and successfully won a seat in the Australian Senate representing Victoria during the 2016 double dissolution election. At age 73, he became the oldest individual newly elected to the Australian parliament. His party prioritizes reforms in criminal justice, advocating for stricter penalties for violent and sexual offenders, eliminating bail for serious violent offenses, reforming parole systems, and implementing a public register for sex offenders. Additionally, it champions equal rights, enhanced legislation against animal cruelty, and supports voluntary euthanasia. Although some objections were raised, fellow Senators assigned him a three-year Senate term rather than the usual six.

In 2017, questions emerged about Hinch holding a US Social Security number amid Australia's dual citizenship eligibility issues; however, the Attorney-General cleared him from being referred to the High Court. Hinch has also voiced his endorsement of capital punishment.

Hinch was unsuccessful in retaining his seat during the 2019 federal election, resulting in his party losing federal representation but maintaining two seats in the Victorian Legislative Council. He also ran unsuccessfully in the 2022 Victorian state election for the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region.

He opposes the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and declared in February 2024 his plan to contest the 2024 Melbourne City Council election.

Michael Glennon

In 1985, Hinch exposed that Michael Glennon, who had previously been convicted of indecent assault on a minor, was running a youth camp while facing additional charges. Concerned that parents were uninformed, Hinch privately reached out to then Victorian Premier John Cain, the Attorney-General, and the leader of the Catholic Church in Australia, but they distanced themselves from the issue. Subsequently, Hinch publicly named Glennon during his trial despite stringent sub judice regulations. This action delayed proceedings and resulted in Hinch receiving a $10,000 fine and a twelve-day imprisonment for contempt of court. This marked Australia's first prison sentence related to a prior restraint matter. Hinch appealed to the High Court of Australia, which upheld his conviction, ruling that although his motive was to alert the public, disclosing Glennon's prior conviction was prejudicial under Australian law. Hinch has called this episode "the thing I'm most proud of in my life."

Mick Gatto's call

On 24 June 2008, while discussing the notoriety of underworld figures on his drive-time show, Mick Gatto phoned in, resulting in a brief confrontation that concluded with a death threat.

John Laws

On 30 July 2007, both John Laws and Hinch participated in the 40 Years of Radio Legends celebration. Following the event, Hinch criticized it for appearing to primarily honor Laws, which led to friction between the two.

Later, on 5 December 2007, while dining with 2CH broadcaster Bob Rogers at the Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo, Sydney, Laws directed offensive language toward Hinch.

Sexual relationship with teenager

In his 2004 publication The Fall and Rise of Derryn Hinch and a 2005 radio commentary, Hinch confessed to engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl during his early thirties, under the assumption she was approximately 25 years old. This revelation sparked demands for legal action against him. However, in 2013, Hinch clarified that the woman later contacted him to confirm she was born in 1961 and that they met soon after he joined 3AW in 1979, making her 17 at that time—above the legal age of consent in Australia.

1987 conviction and imprisonment

In 1987, Hinch was sentenced to a fine of $15,000 and served a 12-day jail term for contempt of court after publicly disclosing the previous conviction of paedophile Roman Catholic priest Michael Charles Glennon during an active trial.

2011 conviction and home detention

Hinch received a conviction in June 2011 for violating suppression orders by naming two convicted sex offenders and was consequently placed under five months of home detention.

2014 conviction and imprisonment

In October 2013, Hinch was found guilty of contempt of court after breaching a suppression order by revealing information about Jill Meagher’s murderer, Adrian Ernest Bayley. He was fined $100,000 with a deadline of 90 days to pay; failure to do so would result in a 50-day prison sentence. On 16 January 2014, Hinch chose not to pay on principle and was incarcerated the following day. He completed the full 50-day term and was released on 7 March 2014, where he was welcomed by his partner Natasha Chadwick and members of the press.

Personal life

Hinch has entered into marriage five times. His first two spouses were Lana Wells, who worked as an editor, and Eve Carpenter, a flight attendant. In 1983, he wed Australian actress Jacki Weaver; they divorced in 1996. Claims of a subsequent marriage to Weaver have been denied by her. In 2006, he married Chanel Hayton; their relationship ended in separation by 2012. His most recent publicly known partner is Natasha Chadwick, a former NSW Police detective sergeant turned freelance journalist.

In March 2017, Hinch revealed that he had been sexually abused as a child in New Plymouth in 1953.

He identifies as an atheist.

Health

In 2006, Hinch experienced notable weight loss accompanied by deteriorating health conditions. On 4 March 2007, during an appearance on 60 Minutes, he disclosed suffering from advanced liver cirrhosis alongside a liver tumour. By April of that year, further imaging was conducted, and on 4 August 2007, he announced that his liver cancer was deemed inoperable.

On 20 September 2010, Hinch confirmed his cancer diagnosis again and anticipated undergoing surgery to remove one-third of his liver, which would necessitate several weeks off broadcasting. Medical professionals estimated his five-year survival probability at around 60%. By November 2010, he acknowledged that without a liver transplant, his life expectancy would be limited to approximately one year.

On 6 July 2011, Hinch underwent liver transplant surgery at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital.

Published works

The Scrabble Book (1972; revised edition 1977),
Death at Newport (1986),
AIDS – Most of the Questions, Some of the Answers (1987),
Death in Paradise (1989),
The Derryn Hinch Diet (1991),
That's Life (1992),
The Ultimate Guide to Winning Scrabble (2001),
101 Ways To Lose Your Mobile Phone (2001),
The Fall and Rise of Derryn Hinch: How I Hit the Wall and Didn't Bleed (2004),
You are So Beautiful – The Passion and the Pain of Relationships (2006),
I Beat the Booze and You Can Too (2009),
Human Headlines: My 50 Years in the Media (2010),
A Human Deadline – A Story of Life, Death, Hope and House Arrest (2012),
Hinch vs Canberra: Behind the Human Headlines (2017),
Unfinished Business: Life of a Senator (2020)

External links