Laws of the land

JOHN Laws' golden baritone was once ubiquitous on airwaves across the country.

JOHN Laws' golden baritone was once ubiquitous on airwaves across the country (I recall his morning show being broadcast through loudspeakers, Big Brother style, to an entire Tasmanian shopping mall each day).

If you educate John Laws, Paul Keating once said, you educate middle Australia. That's how powerful he was. After scandals and retirement, he's made a minor return to radio - and he still ruffles feathers, but behind the bluff and bluster journalist Greg Bearup found Laws in a surprisingly reflective mood. When you devote so much time to chasing fame and wealth, there are often other parts of life that you neglect. In his twilight years, this seems to weigh heavily on Laws.