Wikipedia

Leon Byner

Leon Byner
OAM
Born
Leon Robert Byner

(1948-09-16)16 September 1948
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia[1]
Died11 November 2025(2025-11-11) (aged 77)
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
OccupationTalkback radio presenter
Employer5AA/ Nova Entertainment

Leon Robert Byner, OAM (17 September 1948 – 11 November 2025) was an Australian broadcaster who started his radio career in 1966 in Shepparton, Victoria. He worked in Sydney, Brisbane,Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. Byner had been at 5AA for over two decades hosting a top rating morning talk show on radio station 5AA Adelaide and nine radio Macquarie affiliates in country South Australia.

Career

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During his career, Byner has worked on radio in every Australian state capital. He switched from music presentation to talk radio in 1996 and his career included a couple of stints on Los Angeles talk stations in California.[citation needed]

Byner also presented segments for Adelaide, Brisbane local television and satellite TV Europe on Australian and international celebrities.

He was nominated 13 times for ACRA awards (best talk and current affairs) and Australian of the Year three times.[citation needed]

Byner retired from 5AA on 2 December 2022.[1]

He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to radio broadcast media" in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours on 11 June 2023.[2][3]

ACMA investigation

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On 25 October 2011 ACMA found that on 1 October 2010, Byner's show had breached the Commercial Radio Codes by presenting a paid advertisement to promote water purifiers as a current affairs item regarding the "dangers" of water fluoridation. FIVEaa were also found to have breached the complaint handling provisions as directed by the code.[4] Byner had previously been suspended from 5AA for eight weeks in 2004 when he had been found to have not disclosed financial arrangements with businesses.[5]

Death

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Byner died from acute leukaemia on 11 November 2025, at the age of 77.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Adelaide commercial radio host Leon Byner dies after cancer battle aged 77". ABC News. 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  2. ^ Penberthy, David (11 June 2023). "Adelaide icon Leon Byner awarded an OAM for service to radio". The Australian. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) entry for Mr Leon Robert BYNER". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2025. For service to radio broadcast media.
  4. ^ "Ad as program breach by talkback station". ABC News. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Disgraced announcer back on Adelaide's airwaves". ABC News. 29 March 2004. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  6. ^ Gilchrist, Charlie (11 November 2025). "Legendary radio broadcaster dies after cancer battle". InDaily, Inside South Australia. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
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