Richard Pratt has died aged 74

[LostDoggy]

BILLIONAIRE packaging king Richard Pratt has died aged 74 following a battle with prostate cancer.

Visy Packaging spokesman Tony Gray has confirmed that Mr Pratt died just after 7pm (AEST) tonight.

A constant stream of prominent personalities, including politicians, football players and businessmen, have visited the home of the Visy boss over the past days to pay their respects and to say farewell.

Mr Pratt, 74, leaves behind wife Jeanne, son Anthony, daughters Heloise and Fiona and grandchildren.

The eulogies for Mr Pratt started pouring in once news of his terminal illness broke early last week.

Victorian Premier John Brumby described the self-made businessman and prominent philanthropist as a "great Victorian and a great Australian".

"He came to this country with not much and made a lot of it and built a huge business," Mr Brumby said.

"I think he's a stunning success story, one of the great Australian success stories."

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said her thoughts were with the Pratt family.

"Obviously, this is a very, very difficult time for the Pratt family and I would wish them well in that very difficult time," Ms Gillard said.

The Carlton Football Club expressed their sorrow.

Mr Pratt is credited with bringing Carlton back from the brink of ruin in 2007.

Coach Brett Ratten and several Carlton players visited Mr Pratt and his family today.

"He's been the catalyst to get our club off the bottom," Ratten said.

Captain Chris Judd said he couldn't imagine what the club would look like without Mr Pratt's influence.

"I doubt I would be here as well," Judd said.

R.I.P

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

He would have died a happy man, seeing his beloved Blues triumph on Sunday.

[chef]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Rest in peace.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Rest in peace.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Is it too late for him to give back the $700 mil he stole?

Why does someone become a saint when they die?

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Is it too late for him to give back the $700 mil he stole?

Why does someone become a saint when they die?

Ditto.

A corporate crook that gave back to the arts and co.

Al Capone took money that wasn't his and gave it out as a philanthropist too.

A lifetime of some good deeds does not wash away the stain and stench of corruption. In my book he goes down as one of the worst corporate crooks, $36,000,000 fine for ripping off the Australian people.

I feel very sad for his family and friends, but he ain't no saint and was not and will never be cleared of the criminal charges he faced in Australia's worst cartel case in history.

[comrade]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

His biggest crime was saving the CFC.

RIP though..

[LostDoggy]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Ditto.

A corporate crook that gave back to the arts and co.

Al Capone took money that wasn't his and gave it out as a philanthropist too.

A lifetime of some good deeds does not wash away the stain and stench of corruption. In my book he goes down as one of the worst corporate crooks, $36,000,000 fine for ripping off the Australian people.

I feel very sad for his family and friends, but he ain't no saint and was not and will never be cleared of the criminal charges he faced in Australia's worst cartel case in history.

Couldn't agree more - God rest his soul, but I reckon he might have some explaining to do to the "big guy" upstairs What's that saying, "what goes round, comes round" - I do believe in Karma

[Dry Rot]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Lucky he didn't die in a prison hospital. Ripped off every Australian.

[Bornadog]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

I didn't like him or respect him, but he also did some good. Poured millions into fixing Australia's water problems and also has a large foundation that gave lots of donations to worthy causes.

His actions with Visy are inexcusable and the trial against him for committing perjury should have continued.

[Sedat]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Don't disagree with some of the sentiments expressed here but why does the Chairman of AMCOR get off scot free? You need more than one person to form a cartel.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Don't disagree with some of the sentiments expressed here but why does the Chairman of AMCOR get off scot free? You need more than one person to form a cartel.

Why?

Because 'Mr. AMCOR' cracked under the pressure of heavy questioning and then squealed like 'Tony Loose Lips' for a deal avoiding major punishment. While Pratt thought he had a solid partner in crime.

Today's lessons - pick your criminal friends closely because loose lips sink ships.

In all my years in the police force i was always asked about who i thought were the wrst kinds of crooks. Rapists etc aside, i always said your corporate crims, like Pratt and like the rogue NAB traders. One drug depenendent person breaks into a house and steals a lap-top, that is bad and in some cases traumatic to the experience of the individual householder. Corporate crooks, i would sugest generally dont get caught but when they do the extent and reach of the misery they peddle has far more reaching negative consequences not just for individuals or towns, states, but the entire Freaking country. That our Prime Minister whispered into his ear as he died every Australian resptected him makes me sick. Perhaps Kevin could down to read eulogies at the next gangland death and heap the nations praise on them. Those that pilferd from the Jews in WW2 through Poland and France and became exteremely rich and took their new wealth to the new world and became magnamamous and philanthropic then spent a lifetime trying to use that wealth to buy their sole back. And would be lauded for tehir contribution to society, but that contribution was blood money and once a soul is sold, it cannot be brought back.

Certainly Pratt was not stealing Jewish diamonds in 1943, but he committed crimes upon the Australian people and handed some of the ill gotten money back. This was Al Capone '101'. Take what's not yours and then publicly give lots of money away so people love you so when trials come around no-one could believe you were a criminal and have loads of high profile charachter witnesses.

Pratt is no different to the directors of HIH, the NAB rogue traders or Bondy himself. In fact over time you could mount an agrument to suggest he was worse. I hope the employment of Chris Judd's mum continues in Visy and Chris continues to pursue his Visy connections.

Dame Elizabeth Murduch deserves the praise that Pratt is getting. I went to a Monash Uni benefactors night last year and i didn't realise how much Roslyn Smorgon gave to education and genuine philanthropic causes, i thought it was a lot - it was far, far more than i grasped. And you never saw her or David seeeking media for their genuine contribution to society. True philanthoropy. They showed hard work and deceny still has a place in society, and the Pratt luadings make me sick, he was never cleared and will never be. I consider it to saying well Christopher Skase never spent a day behind the wall of an Australian prison, so he must be innocent.

Again i wish only support and strenght for his family and loved ones, but please lets be beatify him for handing back some 'stolen' money and paying Australia's largest ever fine.

[Sedat]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Agree, was beautifully summarised.

But Amcor conspired every bit as complicitly as Visy to rip off the Australian public. There would have not been a crime in the first place without the direct involvement of Amcor. Therefore, it does not matter in my eyes that Amcor was the first to publicly show their hand - Amcor's intent was every bit as devious as Visy's. That they they have managed to successfully avoid any of the criticism directed at Visy is a completely undeserved by-product of the whole sorry saga.

Anyway I hope the Pratt family can get by in what would be a very difficult time for them.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

Just can't bring myself to speak ill of the dead...

[Desipura]

Re: Richard Pratt has died aged 74

I have always been taught not to speak ill of the dead as well. Sometimes best not to say anything about the dead if you have nothing good to say.