John Laws, Richo, and the end of an era

John Laws not only commanded Australia’s airwaves for over seven decades, but our kitchen.

Laws’ voice bridged the gap between our kitchen and the world. When I heard the news that he was gone, I teared up and rang Alexandra to ask if we could do something that focused on the great man.

His departure leaves a void in the media landscape he helped define. For me, it stirs memories of a pivotal moment in my own career.

In the Unfiltered newsletter, Alexandra Marshall wrote:

Michael de Percy has shared his personal story with John Laws and describes his passing as an ‘end of an era’. ‘Laws wasn’t just a broadcaster. He was a cultural institution. Laws’ voice bridged the gap between our kitchen and the world … his voice echoed across generations, and in no small way, it helped shaped mine.’

My latest in The Spectator Australia, John Laws, Richo, and the end of an era.

MICHAEL DE PERCY | "John Laws wasn’t just a broadcaster. He was a cultural institution."

Laws’ style was direct, probing, and unapologetically opinionated, yet he gave space for informed debate. That interview wasn’t just a platform, it was a milestone in my academic… pic.twitter.com/L55MaFy4Wr

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) November 10, 2025