Political leaders, celebrities and fellow broadcasters have paid tribute to Australian radio icon John Laws, who has died peacefully at home at the age of 90.
Laws’ family confirmed his death in a statement on Sunday night, saying he had been in “good health and even better spirits right up until the last few weeks.”
They described him as a beloved “father, grandfather and uncle,” remembered for much more than his fame behind the microphone.
NSW Premier Chris Minns called Laws “a towering figure in Australian radio whose voice resonated across the nation for more than seven decades,” adding that the state would offer his family a state funeral.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described him as “an iconic voice and so much more,” praising his ability to hold “genuine conversations” and saying, “I don’t think there’ll be another like him.”
John Laws was an iconic voice and so much more.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 9, 2025
Generations of Australians trusted and respected him for telling it straight, digging deep and giving his guests and his listeners a chance to be heard.
John was always a thoroughly prepared and thoughtful interviewer – and…
Actor Russell Crowe remembered Laws as “a wise mentor, mischievous mate and a very good friend,” while fellow broadcaster Ray Hadley called him “the king of radio.”
Alan Jones said Laws could “read the pulse of the nation when few politicians can,” and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley hailed him as “a true pioneer of broadcasting.”
Known as the “Golden Tonsils,” Laws’ 71-year career shaped modern Australian talkback radio. From his start in Bendigo in 1953 to his long stints at Sydney’s 2UE and 2SM, he became a national voice for millions of listeners and a powerful figure in political and cultural life.
Laws received the OBE in 1974, the CBE in 1978, and multiple Hall of Fame honours, leaving behind a legacy that, as Ley said, “will echo for years to come.”
