The Australian broadcasting landscape is preparing to say a final goodbye to one of its most formidable and controversial figures, John Laws, who will be honoured with a state funeral.
A Titan's Farewell
The talkback radio titan died peacefully at the age of 90 on November 9, concluding a mammoth seven-decade career that made his voice one of the most recognisable across the nation. His funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday at Sydney's historic St Andrew's Cathedral, where a host of prominent figures from politics and media are expected to pay their respects.
Tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum since his passing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the commemorations, labelling Laws 'an iconic Australian'. This sentiment was echoed by former prime ministers Paul Keating and John Howard, with Mr Keating having once famously anointed him the 'broadcaster of the century'.
A Legacy Forged on Air
Announcing that the Laws family had accepted the offer of a state funeral, NSW Premier Chris Minns praised the broadcaster's 'extraordinary' career. 'John Laws was a towering figure in Australian radio whose voice resonated across the nation for more than seven decades,' Mr Minns stated. 'His legacy lies not only in the thousands of hours on air, but in the connection he forged with millions of Australians.'
Laws launched his remarkable radio journey in Bendigo in 1953. He became most famously associated with Sydney station 2UE, where he worked four separate stints. His career also included periods at other major stations including 2GB, 2UW, and 2SM, along with brief ventures into television with Network Ten and Foxtel.
Controversy and Criticism
However, his long career was not without significant scandal. Laws and fellow radio star Alan Jones were found to have accepted cash payments in exchange for providing favourable on-air coverage for certain commercial brands. The Australian Broadcasting Authority investigation concluded that Laws, Jones, and station 2UE had breached the industry code 90 times and violated their station's licence conditions on five separate occasions.
In a more recent controversy from 2013, nearly 40,000 people signed a petition demanding he undergo sensitivity training. This public outcry came after he defended an interview in which he asked a 44-year-old victim of child sex abuse whether the abuse was 'in any way your fault'.
Despite these controversies, John Laws remains an indelible part of Australian broadcasting history. His state funeral marks the final chapter for a man whose voice dominated the airwaves for generations, leaving behind a complex legacy of immense influence punctuated by professional scandal.
