Barnaby Joyce stole the show from Hollywood star Russell Crowe at John Laws funeral

2 weeks ago 4

John Laws, the veteran broadcaster whose rich baritone provided the backing track to so many Australian lives over his many decades behind the microphone, was laid to rest at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Wednesday.

On a November afternoon that showcased Sydney in its full late-spring glory – clear skies, pulsing sun, jacaranda blooms coating the ground in a purple dusting – Laws’ state funeral attracted a who’s who of the nation’s political, business, entertainment and cultural elite.

Barnaby Joyce arrives at John Laws’ funeral on Wednesday.

Among the first to arrive was former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, a man who, despite now sitting on the opposition backbenches, never fails to draw a media scrum. Decked in a wide-brimmed Akubra hat emblazoned with the initials SK (a reference to one of billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s companies, which gifted him the headpiece last year), Joyce posed for selfies with the punters at Town Hall, before telling a gaggle of assembled media that Laws “gave people hope that they would be listened to”.

“The worst thing you can be for you guys is boring … John Laws was never boring,” he said.

Was Joyce ever scared of him?

“I don’t know about scared,” was his reply.

Joyce drew enough attention from the media pack that Nine television personality Richard Wilkins and 2GB radio shock-jock Ben Fordham, who now rules Sydney’s airwaves, slipped into the cathedral with little fanfare. The two were seen inside with former Olympic swimmer Dawn Fraser. No sign, though, of FM radio man Kyle Sandilands, who described Laws as “a mentor and a mate,” but told listeners this morning he wanted to avoid the media circus.

“I said listen, thank you but after my own father’s funeral, the paparazzi intrusion in such an emotional moment, I thought that I’m never going to another funeral again,” Sandilands said.

No sign either of Alan Jones, Laws’ former colleague and later bitter rival for radio supremacy, who is facing court next year over indecent assault and sexual touching offences, which he denies.

Jones has been spotted out and about in Sydney and Melbourne this week, but did not attend the service, despite some predictions he would.

Despite the glorious Sydney weather, it’s still killing season for the Liberals, and so the party’s intrigue is never far from mind.

First-term Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane, who could be days away from becoming the state’s next opposition leader, took a break from counting the numbers and arrived at St Andrew’s early. She was seated just two spots away from Gurmesh Singh, who became the NSW Nationals leader yesterday. Former Liberal premier Nick Grenier sat in the row in front. Sloane was spotted chatting with Libertarian state MP John Ruddick and federal Liberal frontbencher Melissa McIntosh before the formalities.

There was no sign of NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman, whom several party powerbrokers and MPs want Sloane to replace before Christmas.

There was, however, an appearance by former prime minister John Howard, about the only former Liberal leader the party’s warring tribes still unanimously warm to. Howard was one of 17 prime ministers to go up against “Golden Tonsils” during his decades of radio dominance – a record that won’t be beaten any time soon.

But the Liberal veteran drew blanks when asked what Laws’ secret was.

“He takes it to the grave,” Howard said, raising his eyebrows to the assembled media outside.

Howard said Laws “along with Alan Jones and Neil Mitchell” was one of the great broadcasters.

In the final minutes before the service, a flurry of late arrivals emerged. There was Premier Chris Minns, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and federal Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite, who was representing Anthony Albanese’s government. The cameras flocked to entertainer Marcia Hines, but few registered the arrival of billionaire trucking magnate Lindsay Fox.

However, political and business royalty can hardly compete with Hollywood royalty. Sporting golden sunnies and slicked-back hair, Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe, a long-term neighbour of Laws at Woolloomooloo, arrived with his partner, actor turned real estate agent Britney Theriot.

In his eulogy, Crowe said the pair rarely agreed on anything.

“However, we did agree that we liked each other and our differing perspectives never stopped us from making each other laugh.”

After doing the honours, Rusty made a hasty exit, leaving well before formalities had wrapped up.

If Crowe was worried about being harassed by adoring fans, he need not have feared. Once formalities concluded, it was Joyce who was once again the centre of attention, posing for more selfies and holding court among a posse of little old ladies hanging off his every word.

Howard and Hines exchanged pleasantries as the crowd stumbled into the bright afternoon sunshine. Then the police motorcade revved their engines, and Laws’ casket was whisked away into the George Street traffic.

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