Veteran Australian journalist Mike Willesee has died at the age of 76 after a long battle with throat cancer.

Key points: Former colleagues Ray Martin and Kerry O'Brien described Willesee as a "trail blazer" and "the benchmark" of Australian journalism

Former colleagues Ray Martin and Kerry O'Brien described Willesee as a "trail blazer" and "the benchmark" of Australian journalism Willesee was a fierce interviewer and travelled the world producing documentaries and news program for Australian TV

Willesee was a fierce interviewer and travelled the world producing documentaries and news program for Australian TV He was diagnosed with stage-four throat cancer in December 2016

Willesee became a household name after fronting the ABC's Four Corners for two years from 1969 and was described as a "trailblazer" of Australian journalism.

He then left the national broadcaster, persuading Channel Nine to allow him to start his own nightly program in November 1971 — A Current Affair.

During his time as host he discovered and launched the career of a young comedian called Paul Hogan and famously cornered then Liberal leader John Hewson during the 1993 Federal Election campaign with a simple question on the GST.

He asked: "If I buy a birthday cake from a cake shop, and GST is in place, do I pay more or less for that birthday cake?"

Political commentators say Mr Hewson's long-winded reply was the turning point in the 1993 election, which he lost.

Mike Willesee (left) and Opposition Leader John Hewson during the infamous 'birthday cake' interview. ( Channel Nine )

On Friday, Mr Hewson paid tribute to Willesee and described the encounter as a "good question, bad answer — that's what history shows".

"Mike was a passionate journalist," he said, adding: "He will be remembered particularly fondly — even by me!"

The line of questioning was Willesee's trademark, with long pauses used tactically to make interviewees squirm.

Fellow veteran journalist and former colleague Ray Martin said in an interview scenario in the television studio he was "the best" with the "Willesee pause" his signature move.

"You give a politician a moment's silence and they feel like they had to talk," Martin said.

"They often said things they didn't want to say to Mike Willesee.

"But he had charisma and there was a touch of class about what he did in his journalism."

Mike Willesee in his early days of broadcasting. ( Supplied )

Martin said Willesee pioneered a style of current affairs that was accessible to ordinary Australians.

"He realised that news and current affairs didn't have to be boring. You could actually be entertaining."

Kerry O'Brien, a former long-time presenter of the ABC's 7.30 program, remembered Willesee as "an absolute trailblazer on Australian television".

"I regarded him right through my career as the benchmark," O'Brien said.

"He cut his teeth on This Day Tonight. Mike was the first Canberra correspondent and had no television experience.

"He was quality and class from the outset. A very sharp mind and a great instinct for the right question."

Willesee spoke about his throat cancer diagnosis on Australian Story. ( Australian Story/ Mayeta Clark )

Willesee reported from Vietnam during the height of the war whilst anchoring Four Corners.

He later established a media company and sold a current affairs show with a format similar to This Day Tonight — A Current Affair — to Frank Packer's Channel Nine.

"Yes, it was a tabloid version of This Day Tonight, but his interviews were always classy and they always had substance," O'Brien said.

"He had a lot of depth to his journalism."

Throat cancer the final battle

Willesee opened up about his battle with throat cancer in a revealing Australia Story program, aired in November 2017.

Mike Willesee with grandson Mack and son Michael Willesee Jnr in Sydney in 2017. ( Australian Story: Mayeta Clark )

In it Willesee described the shock of receiving the cancer diagnosis after feeling pain in the one side of his jaw, and spoke about his family's staunch support.

He also revealed how he had returned to his Catholic faith after years away the church.

He said: "If you're going to be given a death sentence, I'm sure it's much easier to handle if you have a belief system that says, 'Well this is what will happen to you. What do you want to do about it?'."