The Australian broadcasting landscape has lost one of its most iconic voices with the passing of radio legend John Laws at the age of 90. The celebrated broadcaster, known for his 'golden tonsils', dominated the airwaves for an incredible seven decades, leaving behind a legacy that touched millions of Australians.
A Nation Mourns a Broadcasting Giant
Tributes have flooded in from across the country, with Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe leading the heartfelt acknowledgments. Crowe, who had been Laws' neighbour for more than twenty years, took to social media platform X to remember his "mischievous mate and very good friend". The Gladiator star wrote that while deeply saddened by the passing, he felt "buoyed in the sure and certain knowledge that he led a magnificent life of achievement and adventure".
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also shared his grief, describing Laws as "an iconic voice and so much more". The PM highlighted how "generations of Australians trusted and respected him for telling it straight, digging deep and giving his guests and his listeners a chance to be heard". Albanese noted Laws was always "thoroughly prepared and thoughtful interviewer, and wonderful company off-air".
The Voice That Defined Australian Radio
KIIS FM star Kyle Sandilands called Laws one of the true originals in broadcasting, stating "you could never mistake him for anyone else". Sandilands praised Laws for saying what he thought without caring who he offended, while also showing "deep compassion when required". The radio megastar expressed his devastation at losing "a mentor and a mate", adding that "radio won't be the same without him".
NSW Premier Chris Minns reflected on Laws' profound impact on Sydney and the nation, noting that "Sydney is an early morning city, people get up early, and talkback radio, particularly with John Laws narrating what was happening, has been a big part of life in Australia". Minns, who had been interviewed by Laws multiple times, marveled at his incredible depth of knowledge and his ability to catch interviewees in inconsistencies "right up until his final year on radio".
Seven Decades of Broadcasting Excellence
Born in New Guinea on August 8, 1935, Laws moved to Australia with his family as a schoolboy and launched his remarkable radio career in Bendigo in 1953. His voice became synonymous with Sydney radio through four separate stints at station 2UE after first joining the broadcaster in 1957. He also worked for 2GB, 2UW and 2SM, with brief periods at Network Ten and Foxtel.
At the peak of his popularity, Laws attracted an impressive two million listeners to his morning radio program. His influence extended far beyond entertainment, with former prime minister Paul Keating once remarking that "if you could convince John Laws, you could convince Australia".
Laws pioneered a unique style that blended entertainment, information and opinion, delivered through what became one of the most recognised voices in the country. His shows reached Australians through almost 100 stations, with particular popularity in rural NSW.
Fellow Sydney radio broadcaster Ray Hadley described Laws as a "radio icon", urging those who followed in his footsteps to "remember the person who dug that well. And that well was dug by the great John Laws, a true pioneer of Australian talkback radio".
The broadcaster's passing comes just a year after his retirement, when he famously stated: "You're not going to be hearing it for long, mate, I think it's time for a rest, is what I think. I've done it for a very, very, very, very long time. Seventy years, is it long enough? It's long enough."
Laws had experienced personal tragedy with the loss of his beloved wife, Caroline, to cancer in 2020. He was married to her for more than four decades and often referred to her as his princess. The Australian Media Hall of Fame member leaves behind a broadcasting legacy unlikely to be matched.
