Australian radio broadcaster dies aged 90
“Generations of Australians have trusted and respected him because he gets it straight, goes deep and gives his guests and listeners a chance to be heard,” he wrote in X.
“I offer my condolences to his loved ones and all those who benefited from his wisdom and guidance.”
Influential radio presenter and friend of Laws, Kyle Sandilands, mourned the loss of a “mentor and a wife”.
NSW Premier Chris Minns called Laws “a towering figure on Australian radio whose voice has resonated across the country for more than seven decades.”
“His legacy lies not only in the thousands of hours of broadcasting, but also in the connection he made with millions of Australians,” Minns said in a statement.
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce said he had known Laws all his life and that “good talkback presenters have the golden trait for success; they are very smart with facts and very good with psychology”.
“From his time in 2LF to his end in 2SM, he never lost it. I’m really sorry, I think we’ll just call each other friends.”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Australia had lost a true pioneer of broadcasting with the death of John Laws.
“His unfailing voice has become part of our national music. He has informed and entertained millions, asked difficult questions and always made room for others to be heard. He has helped shape public debate with a style that is fearless, insightful and clearly his own,” he said. “My thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who admired him. His legacy will echo for years to come.”
Accolades, influence and ‘money for comments’
In 1999, Laws and Jones were the subject of the infamous “money for review” incident, in which Laws was accused of editing paid advertising for brands such as Qantas, Foxtel and others without disclosing it. In 2004, it was revealed that he had violated the advertising law in a second scandal.
Since then he has violated the broadcast watchdog’s codes several times.
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In 2014, communications watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority found he had breached the law’s privacy provisions after reading the full name and phone number of a listener who was critical of his program live on air. He breached the rules once again in 2020 for a “dangerous” suicidal insult directed at an audience member.
Laws received the OBE in 1974, then the CBE in 1978, and was awarded International Broadcaster of the Year in 2004. During his career he was inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame, the Australian Media Hall of Fame and the Country Music Association Hall of Fame.
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