Alan Jones has expressed heartfelt tribute to his long-time talkback radio competitor, John Laws, emphasizing that their relationship was marked not by hostility but by “enduring respect and friendship.”

John Laws, affectionately known as “Lawsie” and cherished as “the Golden Tonsils,” graced the airwaves for over seven decades. His influence was so profound that former Prime Minister Paul Keating honored him as the “broadcaster of the century” and famously referred to the 1983 federal election as “The John Laws Election.”

Throughout the years, Laws and Jones were often embroiled in a much-publicized and intense rivalry, capturing public attention with their fiery exchanges and competitive spirit.

However, following the news of Laws’ passing, Jones took the opportunity to revisit what he describes as their “so-called rivalry.”

“In any field worth its merit, competitive tension is inevitable; yet, there was never any animosity between us,” Jones shared in a social media statement. “What we had were countless great stories, shared laughter, and a deep-seated respect and friendship that endured through the years.”

Jones, using a cricket analogy, added that “there were a lot of runs, plenty of missed chances, more than a few wasted appeals”.

The 84-year-old went on to pay tribute to his former colleague and friend, saying it would require “volumes to do justice to an idiosyncratic individual”.

“For almost three quarters of that time [a century], ‘the voice’ entertained, cajoled, persuaded, jested, but, above all, spoke with an unapologetic clarity, best summed up by his often personal observation to me, ‘If they don’t like it, they can turn off’,” he wrote.

“But they rarely did because, whether from adulation or anger, John Laws was compulsive listening.

“John pioneered talkback radio which, to him, was the broadcast medium where, while you talked, you also had to listen back and respond. The results bear witness to his extraordinary success.”

Laws and Jones’ long-standing rivalry began when they were caught up in the infamous cash for comment scandal in 1999, which was found to have breached the commercial radio broadcast codes.

Jones’ departure from their workplace at the time, 2UE, for rival station 2GB also fanned the fire after he took the majority of their listeners with him. 

The 90-year-old retired after 71 years in radio just last year, telling listeners on 2SM that: “I think it’s time for a rest.”