Former Prime Minister Paul Keating once remarked, “When you educate Laws, you educate Australia,” highlighting the influential role of a prominent media figure.

John Laws was among the pioneers in playing rock music on the radio. Leveraging his connections in the airline industry, he secured the latest international releases before they hit the Australian market, giving him a distinct advantage during an era when there were significant delays in music distribution.

Renowned as the “Talkback King,” John Laws retired from his illustrious radio career in 2024, concluding an impressive seven decades behind the microphone.

In addition to his long association with 2UE, Laws also lent his voice to other Sydney stations such as 2GB, 2UW, and 2SM. He even dabbled in television, with brief tenures at Network Ten and Foxtel.

Apart from his various stints with 2UE, he worked for other Sydney stations 2GB, 2UW and 2SM. He also had short periods with Network Ten and Foxtel.

Laws paid $15 million in 2004 for a spacious apartment on Woolloomooloo Wharf, where he lived with his third wife, Caroline, who died in 2020. He had five children from his two previous marriages, and Caroline (“the Princess”, as Laws called her) had four from her earlier union.

Tributes paid after Laws’ death

“I am deeply saddened by his passing, however, I am buoyed in the sure and certain knowledge that he led a magnificent life of achievement and adventure and he lived every moment,” he said on social media.

“He said what he thought, didn’t care who he offended, but could also show deep compassion when required.”

Controversies and scandals

When a listener sent him a fax saying he was nothing more than a “cheap whore”, Laws read it on air, paused and commented: “I’m not cheap”.

Radio talkback great John Laws was one of the most recognisable voices in Australia. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins

Laws was particularly angered by the authority’s 2004 ruling that cleared Jones.