Laurie Oakes has announced his retirement, bringing to an end a 50-year career in journalism.
The Nine Network's political editor, who is nearing his 74th birthday, announced he was retiring on Thursday afternoon.
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Laurie Oakes announces retirement
Bringing to an end a 50-year career, an "absolute giant" of journalism, Laurie Oakes, announces his retirement. Video courtesy Nine News.
The veteran journalist's career has outlasted 14 Australian prime ministers. At the age of just 25 he was the Canberra Bureau Chief for Melbourne's Sun newspaper.
However, Oakes is perhaps best known for his career in television. In 1980 he read then-treasurer John Howard's budget speech live on television – a day before the budget was due to be handed down.
Oakes told Channel Nine of all his explosive stories, this was the one that caused "the biggest stink".
"I met a contact in a hotel carpark on the Sunday morning," he said. "He handed over the budget speech and gave me 15 minutes to read it. So I gabbled the whole lot into a tape recorder while he went in and had a quick drink, and then I transcribed it back at the office."
Oakes said after nearly 50 years in the Canberra Press Gallery it was time to hang up his hat.
"I've been in the Canberra Press Gallery for 48 and a half years," he said. "I've been the Nine Network's political editor since December the 1st, 1984 – the day of that year's federal election. And I'm about to turn 74."
In 1997, three ministers resigned after Oakes reported on the abuse of parliamentary travel expenses. The three-time Walkley Award winner was also inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame in 2011.
Nine's director of news, Darren Wick, described Oakes as the greatest crusader for the cause of journalism in Australia in an all-staff email.
"His impact covering the National political scene for almost half a century has been without peer," he said. "To borrow the catchcry from Gough Whitlam's 1972 election campaign, Laurie has simply decided, 'It's time'."
Wick described Oakes as a "father figure" to many of his Nine colleagues.
"Many a politician and their minder have been sent from the Bureau with tails between legs after foolishly daring to challenge the veracity of a report," he said. "He is a living legend. Yet above all else, Laurie is a terrific bloke. And a very humble man."
Tributes from outside Nine poured in on Thursday, with the ABC's Leigh Sales describing Oakes as "legendary".
"I'd be thrilled to have even a fraction of his courage and skill as a reporter," she said. "He's probably the only TV reporter in Australia who's a household name across generations and that's deservedly so."
Oakes' last day on air with Nine News will be Friday August 18.
.@LaurieOakes, you managed to leak every big story except this one. Good on you mate, you were undoubtedly one of the best.
— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) August 3, 2017
A bombshell only @LaurieOakes could break. Fearless and peerless for five decades. There will only ever be one Laurie Oakes.
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) August 3, 2017
Best wises in retirement @LaurieOakes. Doyen of the press gallery, outstanding champion and often lone voice for #pressfreedom
— MEAA (@withMEAA) August 3, 2017
@LaurieOakes thank you for your contributions to democracy by reporting on parliamentary and political affairs , enjoy retirement #auspol
— Michael A Crosby (@michaelcrosby87) August 3, 2017
This is the greatest political journalist you or I will ever know so, I'm just going to choose to believe it's not happenning @LaurieOakes https://t.co/7ryvdiurVB
— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) August 3, 2017
Thanks for "keeping the bastards honest" #LaurieOakes.
— Geoff Field (@GeoffField) August 3, 2017
All the best in your retirement. pic.twitter.com/VIKrZUh7ea
An absolute giant - nobody has ever come close in my view to his impact in political reporting. Brilliant innings @LaurieOakes https://t.co/7ze1i3ION8
— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) August 3, 2017
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