Veteran Broadcaster John Laws Announces Final Retirement

Veteran Australian radio broadcaster John Laws has announced his retirement, marking the end of an illustrious career spanning almost 71 years. Laws, 89, made the announcement on his Morning show on radio network 2SM, stating that he would retire on November 8, 2024. Known affectionately as the “Golden Tonsils,” Laws expressed that it was “time for a rest,” responding to a listener’s message.

“Cheers Paul, well you’re not going to be hearing it for long,” Laws commented casually in response to a listener named Paul who spoke about their own retirement and admiration for the broadcaster. “It’s time for a rest, is what I think. I’ve done it for a very, very, very, very long time,” he added, reflecting on his 70 years in radio.

Laws started his radio career at Bendigo‘s 3BO in 1953. He became widely known for his work at Sydney station 2UE, where he cultivated a reputation alongside a rivalry with well-known broadcaster Alan Jones. Laws took a hiatus from radio in 2007, only to return in 2011 with “The John Laws Morning Show” on 2SM.

The broadcaster emphasized this retirement would be definitive, unlike his previous return. “When I call it a day, it’ll be a day. I’m not going to go away and then come back again and say, ‘Oh it was all a mistake’. No return, that’s it,” he asserted. Despite his decision to retire, Laws remarked that he still felt youthful and healthy.

Laws’ career has not been without controversy. In 1999, alongside Alan Jones, he was implicated in the “cash for comment” scandal, where he faced scrutiny for allegedly not disclosing paid promotions during editorial segments. This led to him breaching advertising codes in 2004, followed by allegations of further violations, including an incident in 2014 where the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found Laws breached privacy provisions.

Despite these controversies, Laws remains a celebrated figure in Australian radio, known for his unique voice and style that earned him the moniker “Golden Tonsils.” Reflecting on his career, Laws shared, “I had a fantastic 71 years. Loved almost every minute of it.”