John Laws

John Laws
John Laws
Born	Richard John Sinclair Laws; August 8, 1935 (age 91); Wau, Papua New Guinea
Occupation(s)	Radio announcer, television presenter, voice-over artist, author
Years active	1953–2024
Known for	Longest service in Australian talkback radio; "Golden Tonsils"

Richard John Sinclair Laws CBE (born 8 August 1935) is a former Australian radio announcer whose career in broadcasting extended over seven decades. His unmistakable voice earned him the moniker Golden Tonsils.

Career

Laws gained prominence primarily as a talkback radio host and was among the highest-earning radio figures in Australia, holding the record for the longest service in Australian talkback radio history. Although he frequently discussed current events, Laws considered himself more an entertainer and promoter than a traditional journalist. Nevertheless, his interviews with key state and federal politicians had a notable impact on political discourse in New South Wales and across the nation. In addition to radio, he also presented television programs and enjoyed a lengthy career in recording.

For many years, Laws’ radio program was broadcast nationwide, consistently ranking as one of the most influential and widely listened-to shows within Australian media. He was also a sought-after voice-over artist and well-known commercial spokesperson, famously endorsing products such as Valvoline motor oil with the tagline "Valvoline, you know what I mean," and Oral-B toothbrushes with the phrase "Oral-B, the toothbrush more dentists use."

Early life

Laws was born on 8 August 1935 in Wau, Papua New Guinea to Australian parents. He endured polio twice—initially during childhood and again as a young adult. His education took place at Mosman Preparatory School followed by Knox Grammar School in Sydney.

Early career

Beginning his broadcasting journey in 1953 at 3BO in Bendigo, Laws moved on to join 2UE in 1957 for four separate stints. He was one of Australia’s pioneering DJs to feature rock 'n' roll music and innovatively used airline connections to obtain the latest international pop records ahead of widespread Australian release, giving him a distinct advantage.

After departing 2UE in 1959 to manage a farm in the Hunter Valley, he returned to Sydney in 1962 to work at 2GB for two years before going back to 2UE from 1964 until 1969. Subsequently, he spent nearly ten years at 2UW, then rejoined 2UE in 1979 for five years. Following a highly publicized bidding contest, he moved to 2GB but eventually returned to 2UE when it was ranked eighth in audience ratings. His comeback was instrumental in elevating the station to Sydney’s top position for an extended period. His show was syndicated across Australia, enjoying strong audiences on stations including 4BC (Brisbane), 2CC (Canberra), 7HOFM (Hobart), and Mix 104.9 (Darwin).

In 1983, communications academic Glen Lewis characterized Laws as setting public agendas by vocally criticizing various issues and then welcoming listener calls that generally supported his perspectives. Laws was recognized for highlighting negative stereotypes about minority groups and spearheading moral campaigns against marginalized communities, portraying himself as an advocate for the "upright citizen and honest taxpayer."

Television

While primarily identified with radio, Laws also frequently appeared on television as both host and panelist. His early 1960s program Startime played a key role in introducing mainstream Australian audiences to Dame Edna Everage, whom Laws referred to as "a very close friend." In 1970, he admitted he was 'not basically a TV star' and expressed discomfort with television as a medium. He served as a judge on Australia's New Faces in 1969 and took over hosting duties on Beauty and the Beast from 1970, succeeding Noel Ferrier. That same year, he appeared as an actor on the children's series Skippy. Laws resigned from Beauty and the Beast in 1971 due to disagreements over salary. Subsequently, he hosted the daytime program His and Hers. In 1982, he revived Beauty and the Beast for Network 10. Later, in 1998, two programs featuring him premiered: John Laws – In One Lifetime on Network Ten and LAWS on Foxtel. While LAWS continued until 2000, John Laws – In One Lifetime was canceled after two episodes with remaining episodes broadcast later that year.

21st century and retirements

In 2002, Alan Jones, a competing talkback presenter, transitioned from 2UE to 2GB, swiftly elevating that station to the leading talk radio position in Sydney. On 25 June 2007, Laws revealed his decision to retire at the end of the year after an impressive 55-year career.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

1998	John Laws	John Campbell Fellowship Award	Recipient

External links