John Laws CBE (b. 1935), radio talkback commentator, broadcast to 65 stations around Australia on Sydney’s 2UE and other channels between 1957 and 2007. Credited as the media personality with most influence on Australian politics, he hosted three national television series, wrote for three Sydney newspapers, recorded several country music albums, and published four books, including the John Laws Book of Uncommon Sense and the John Laws Barbecue Cookbook. In 1999 Laws was the subject of scrutiny in the ‘cash for comment’ enquiry into public broadcasting, which sparked widespread discussion on the influence of the media on consumer choices. Laws retired from radio in 2007, but has since returned to the air on 2SM.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2012
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