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Controversial cartoonist Larry Pickering dies aged 76

Larry Pickering, four time Walkley winner, controversial cartoonist and alleged conman has died aged 76.

Pickering became best known for his cartoons of naked politicians which ran in The Australian during the 1970s and ’80s before retiring from the media to breed racehorses, grow tomatoes and run sports betting software scams.

During the early 2000s, Pickering returned to the public view after being involved in a series of dubious horse racing and sports betting software companies which led to him being twice featured in exposes on Nine’s A Current Affair.

In 2011, he relaunched his cartooning career with the Pickering Post website which featured right wing, anti-Muslim themes and an undisguised hatred for then-Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.

As he dealt with the final years of his battle with lung cancer, Pickering became more vocal in his extreme views, telling the islamophobic Q Society last year “let’s be honest, I can’t stand Muslims,” before adding: “They are not all bad, they do chuck pillow-biters off buildings.”

Fellow former News Corp cartoonist Paul Zanetti paid his respects on social media, saying: “My close mate, the legendary cartoonist, Larry Pickering passed away peacefully last night in the company of his family.

“No other cartoonist cast such a wide net over the political landscape.

“Condolences to the Pickering family.”


Zanetti also wrote an obituary on the Pickering Post site, declaring: “His memory will live on in his legacy of work and this blog.

“Larry’s wish was that The Pickering Post remain a voice for the people who had nowhere to go – an online community. In a time when other platforms are censoring and shadow-banning opinions, Larry’s blog has become more important than ever.”

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