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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has led the tributes to veteran journalist Mark Colvin, who died today aged 65 after battling chronic illness for more than two decades.
"Mark Colvin was as elegant as he was erudite, always honest, always determined to get to the truth, prodigiously well read," Mr Turnbull said.
"Brilliantly researched, well-informed, substantive, honest, in a world where spin and superficiality has far too much to say in journalism today.
"We have lost a very decent, a very good man. A giant of journalism."
Colvin, whose career at the ABC spanned more than 40 years, was a former foreign correspondent and had been the host of the PM program for the past two decades.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten remembered Colvin as "a gentleman of journalism".
Victorian senator Derryn Hinch, who underwent a liver transplant in 2011, paid tribute to Colvin's advocacy and efforts to raise awareness of organ donation.
In 2012 Colvin received a kidney from Mary Ellen Field, a British woman with whom he formed a friendship during the UK phone-hacking scandal.
"He did much to promote our cause of organ donation. Sign up in his honour," Senator Hinch tweeted
DonateLife, Australia's organ and tissue authority, said on Twitter that Colvin was a "great advocate for promoting the ultimate gift of donation for transplantation" and joined others in encouraging people to register as an organ donor.
ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie said Colvin's steady and measured voice had brought Australians the essential news of the day and kept them informed about national and world events.
"We will miss him enormously, and extend our thoughts to his family and friends," Ms Guthrie said.
Journalists, politicians and the ABC audience remembered Colvin as a mentor, an intellect, a gentleman, a national treasure and an authoritative voice on the radio.
"For so many Australians, hearing his measured, authoritative voice on our airwaves each evening was a great pleasure and inspired instant trust and confidence," ABC director of news Gaven Morris said.
Peter Greste, who spent more than 400 days in an Egyptian jail, said Colvin was "loved, admired and respected".
"There are an awful lot of people who don't take this job seriously, but Mark was one of those who recognised its importance, that recognised the contribution that he made and the media made to Australian public life and Australian democracy," he said.
ABC social affairs correspondent and former Russia correspondent Norman Hermant said Colvin had "outstanding curiosity" and was "a pillar of good journalism, great storytelling".
Guardian Australia editor Lenore Taylor wrote: "We'll sorely miss his interviewing and his intellect."
"The death of Mark Colvin is a horrible, tearing loss for Australian journalism. He was an extraordinary person," journalist and commentator Annabel Crabb said.
Topics: journalism, arts-and-entertainment, government-and-politics, abc, social-media, australia
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