Canberra press gallery veteran Laurie Oakes is to retire after more than 50 years covering Australian politics.
The Channel Nine reporter and three-time Walkley Award-winner will sign off for the last time on August 18, a few days after his 74th birthday.
His career spanned 13 prime ministers, 20 federal elections, 51 budgets and one dismissal.
Oakes bagged a raft of exclusives, including the Kirribilli leadership pact between Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and the travel rorts scandal of 1997 which cost three ministers jobs.
Perhaps his most famous scoop was 1980's leak of an entire federal budget.
It was the story that "caused the biggest stink" and arrived a full two days before then treasurer John Howard delivered it, Oakes told the Nine News website.
He pinched former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam's election slogan and declared "It's time" in explaining his decision to step back from the profession.
"I've loved every moment of being a political journalist. It's a job that matters, it's full of fascinating characters, full of high drama," Oakes said.
"But it's hard work and to do the job properly you have to live it. I've slowed down. I'll stay interested in politics, but I'll watch it from a distance like most normal people."
He described the current state of Australian politics as a mess, though not as bad as the United States with Donald Trump and the "loonies" he surrounds himself with.
"It's a pretty big turn off for voters just the same and I'm a bit turned off by it too which makes this decision easier."
Past and present political leaders poured praise on the retiring reporter.
"He's one of the great pillars of Australian democracy," Mr Howard told Nine News.
Julia Gillard said politics would be unrecognisable without him, while Tony Abbott said the press gallery would be a different place in his absence.
"Good on you mate, you were undoubtedly one of the best," tweeted Barnaby Joyce.
Senior journalists were also full of well wishes.
"An absolute giant - nobody has ever come close in my view to his impact in political reporting. Brilliant innings," the ABC's Leigh Sales tweeted.
"The place won't be the same without Laurie, who has the capacity to terrify politicians in a way no one else can," gallery veteran Michelle Grattan tweeted.
