From jackaroo to 'Golden Tonsils' radio titan: the life and career of John Laws
John Laws, the man with the "golden tonsils", is being remembered as one of the pioneers of Australian talkback radio.
The veteran radio broadcaster has died at the age of 90.
The broadcasting stalwart retired from Sydney's 2SM in November 2024 after a 13-year stint but was arguably best known for his tenure at 2UE.
Once described by former prime minister Paul Keating as "the broadcaster of the century", he was both loved and feared by politicians for his political pull.
While his primary success came from the airwaves, he also lent his iconic voice to radio and TV commercials, and at times appeared on the small screen as a presenter and talk-show panellist.
He also released several singles as a recording artist and was a published poet.
Ultimately, there was more to the man behind the golden microphone.
From jackaroo to radio titan
Born Richard John Sinclair Laws in Wau, Papua New Guinea, in 1935, he was evacuated to Australia during World War II.
As an infant raised in Sydney, Laws suffered two bouts of polio — yet he persevered and started out as a teenage jackaroo in Wellington, in western New South Wales, after leaving school.
John Laws did a few TV appearances in his early career. (Supplied)
He maintained he had no ambition to pursue a career in radio and considered himself more of an entertainer, or on-air salesman, rather than a journalist.
In 1953, Laws landed his first job in radio at 3BO in Bendigo, regional Victoria.
By the 60s, he had transitioned to talkback radio, joining Sydney stations where he would rise to become one of Australia's most powerful broadcasters.
Between 1979 and 1989, Laws would go on to make multiple major moves as part of a radio bidding war, shifting between 2UE, 2UW and 2GB.
Throughout the 90s, Laws was believed to be the country's highest-paid radio host, having reportedly earned $11.6 million in one year, according to The Australian Financial Review.
It was his influence on politics though that made him equally well respected yet feared by politicians.
Laws was one of the few commercial radio hosts to influence public policy through interviews with federal and state leaders.
Veteran Sydney broadcaster John Laws, also known as the "golden tonsils", passed away this week. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)
He interviewed 17 prime ministers throughout his seven-decade career, his first being Robert Menzies, who he described as a gentleman.
Laws told the ABC's 7.30 in 2017 that the prime minister he admired most was former Liberal leader John Howard.
"[And] maybe the one that I've liked the most was Paul Keating," he added.
"He was a good bloke to have a bit of fun with, a bit outrageous."
In 2003, Laws was inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame to recognise his 50th year on the airwaves.
Reflecting on his success, Laws said his "inquisitiveness" enabled him to achieve things other radio broadcasters could not, but he downplayed his "Golden Tonsils" moniker.
"To me, I've never thought I had a very special voice," he said.
"I think there are a lot better voices around than mine. Whether or not they were used the same way as I used mine, I don't know.
"I don't think my voice is very special. It's OK."
Loading...The controversies
Despite Laws's large hold on the Sydney breakfast audience, there were times when he crossed the line.
In 1999, he was named as one of the key players in the "cash-for-comment" inquiry over his failure to disclose his sponsorship agreements.
Laws had always disputed the findings, maintaining "nobody received cash" for his opinions.
"The comments weren't comments, they were commercials, and it was a legitimate commercial arrangement," he said.
Laws outside the Administrative Decisions Tribunal in Sydney in 2006, following controversial comments he made on the airwaves. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
In 2000, Laws was convicted with contempt of court for interviewing a juror in a murder case. He was handed a 15-month suspended sentence.
In 2004, a tribunal ruled that 2003 comments made by Laws and fellow radio commentator Steve Price on 2UE were capable of inciting severe ridicule of gay men.
After an out-of-court settlement, Laws and Price issued an apology and agreed to make a $10,000 donation to a HIV-AIDS charity.
In 2017, Laws then attracted criticism after he revealed he had an office policy that required female staff to wear skirts and show bare legs to "look feminine".
Laws announced his retirement in 2007 but was eventually lured back to the golden microphone, retiring for good in November 2024.
Laws retired for good in November 2024. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)
He said his 2011 decision to return to the airwaves was out of loyalty to his listeners.
"I felt I owed it to the people who were loyal because when I did give it up people would stop me all the time on the street [and say], 'When are you going to go back?' That kind of loyalty you can't buy," he said.
The love of Laws's life
In 1976, Laws married his third wife Caroline, who he referred to as "the princess" to his listeners.
The couple's love affair went as far back as 1951, when they met during a dance as teenagers.
He recalled arriving home and telling his mother: "I think I'm in love."
Laws often referred to his wife Caroline as "the princess" to his listeners. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)
But their union would be brief, with Caroline travelling to London to pursue dance and Laws moving out to the bush.
In the early 70s, the pair would meet again in the tunnel of love at Sydney's Luna Park.
Less than a few years later, they wed at a church in Woollahra with only family and a few close friends.
They shared a combined nine children from their previous marriages and were together up until Caroline's death from ovarian cancer in 2020.
Caroline told The Australian Women's Weekly in 1976 that her four daughters were "absolutely crazy about John".
Laws said in the same interview they would be married "forever".
"I think it's all going to be wonderful," he said.
"I loved her the moment I saw her."