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 Greiner 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.
Kellie Sloane at the funeral.Credit: James Brickwood
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.
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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 it was all over, Joyce 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 departed 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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