Tributes pour in for Australia’s ‘Golden Tonsils’
Tributes are pouring in for Australia’s “Golden Tonsils” John Laws, an influential talkback titan who has resonated on national broadcast channels for more than 70 years.
John Laws, a prominent figure in Australian radio, died peacefully at home at the age of 90, his family said on Sunday.
Laws, a member of the Australian Media Hall of Fame, attracted two million listeners to his morning radio show at the height of his popularity.
Its impact was enormous; Former prime minister Paul Keating once said: “If you can persuade John Laws, you can persuade Australia”.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said Laws’ career had been extraordinary and few broadcasters had left such a deep and lasting mark on Australian media.
Born in New Guinea on 8 August 1935, Laws moved to Australia with his family as a schoolboy and began his radio career in Bendigo in 1953.
After first joining the broadcaster in 1957, he had four stints at Sydney station 2UE, worked for 2GB, 2UW and 2SM, and had short spells at Network Ten and Foxtel.
“His legacy lies not only in the thousands of hours of broadcasting, but also in the connection he made with millions of Australians. Vale John Laws,” Mr Minns said in a statement.
Former colleagues and friends are paying tribute to the man whose distinctive voice earned him the affectionate nickname “Golden Tonsils” and who died a year after hanging up his microphone.
Actor Russell Crowe, Laws’ neighbor for more than two decades, said he was a wise mentor, a mischievous pal and a great friend.
“I am deeply saddened by his passing, but buoyed by the firm and certain knowledge that he lived an amazing life full of accomplishments and adventures and lived every moment of it,” he said in a statement on social media.
“He worked hard, played harder and loved it thoroughly. A legend in the best, most Australian sense of the word. I loved him and I will never forget him. Jack John Laws.”
Laws pioneered a unique blend of entertainment, information and opinion that has made him one of the nation’s most recognized voices.
His shows were widely broadcast across Australia, reaching people through almost 100 stations and were particularly popular in rural NSW.
Laws was said to be the world’s highest-paid radio broadcaster at one stage of his career, with 2UE management presenting him with a golden microphone.
Sydney radio broadcaster Ray Hadley described Laws as a “radio icon”.
“Those who followed him and drank from the well in the past, like me, should remember the person who dug that well,” Hadley said.
“And that well was dug by the great John Laws, the true pioneer of Australian talkback radio.”
Radio host Kyle Sandilands said Laws was “one of the true originals”.
“You could never confuse him with anyone else,” he said.
“He said what he thought, he didn’t care who he offended, but he could also show deep compassion when necessary.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Laws was an iconic voice “and so much more”.
Mr Albanese said on social media: “Generations of Australians have trusted and respected him because he gets it straight, goes deep and gives his guests and listeners the chance to be heard.”
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