By Kishor Napier-Raman and Stephen Brook
Broadcaster Alan Jones has kept an uncharacteristically low profile since this masthead revealed allegations of indecent assault, which he firmly denies. Despite promising in March that he’d be “back soon,” Jones remains conspicuously absent from ADH TV, his James Packer-backed online conservative outrage outlet.
But another broadcaster with a checkered past landed among ADH TV’s rogue’s gallery of right-wing pundits this week. Chris Smith, who was dumped by Sky News and 2GB after alleged inappropriate comments to female colleagues at a 2022 work Christmas party, launched his new nightly show on the platform on Monday, opening with a special episode featuring former anti-vax Liberal MP turned One Nation campaign director Craig Kelly, anti-transgender activist and ill-fated Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves, and former special forces commando-cum-occasional nude OnlyFans model Heston Russell. Hell of a line-up.
Smith, who’s sworn off alcohol since the Christmas party incident, swiftly landed on his feet after his high-profile sacking, picking up a gig at conservative platform TNT Radio, and setting up a crisis communications company last year.
So, is there a new Jones in town? No chance.
“No one can possibly be the new Alan Jones, I wouldn’t even venture to try,” Smith told CBD, adding that he hoped to work with Alan in the new venture, whenever he returns.
He’s also promised to focus on the latest developments in American and British politics, giving viewers “an unwokeful view of the world”. We can’t wait.
YES, WE CANAVAN
For 10 years now, Canberra public servant turned LNP Senator for Queensland Matt Canavan has graced parliament with his passionate advocacy for the resources sector, a milestone celebrated over drinks, nibbles and speeches at The Paddock near Yeppoon last month.
Alan Jones resurfaced from his aforementioned obscurity to take up MC duties. Decaying former Labor powerbroker turned lobbyist Graham “Richo” Richardson and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce also entertained.
Drinks and nibbles: Matt Canavan, Alan Jones, Barnaby Joyce and Graham Richardson.Credit: John Shakespeare
More intriguing are the details of Canavan’s generous friends who appeared on the senator’s register of interests this week. The Retail Guild of Australia, the peak body representing IGAs around the country, picked up the tab for beer and wine at the event.
And the Minerals Council rewarded Canavan’s fealty to big mining – he’s been known to pose in high-vis vests and carry lumps of coal around parliament – with a bottle of Henschke Mount Edelstone 2016 Shiraz, which retails for about $235.
They were outdone by billionaire beef baron Trevor Lee, who coughed up 12 bottles of plonk.
WOODSIDE BROADSIDE
Harrumph! That’s the sound we imagine one-time journalist and former prime minister Tony Abbott’s Olivetti Lettera 25 1980s beige portable typewriter makes when he completes yet another dispatch railing against the sorry state of the modern world.
His latest missive in the opinion pages of The Australian, headlined: “Labor’s snub of Woodside an act of foul politics” details the almost visceral disgust the fossil fuel champion felt at the lack of respect paid by Resources Minister Madeleine King and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in snubbing the gas producer’s big 70th birthday celebrations in Perth on Saturday.
“The engineering Luddites and political breeze-testers currently in charge couldn’t even be bothered politely to acknowledge a 70-year-old Australian success story for fear of transgressing against the climate cult,” wrote Abbott, who was at the shindig along with former prime minister Scott Morrison and former WA premiers Mark McGowan, Colin Barnett and Richard Court.
The West Australian had a delicious detail on the whereabouts of the resources minister. King was “on leave” but happened to be next door to the party at Optus Stadium watching the AFL and was “gutted” when her beloved Fremantle Dockers (sponsored by Woodside) were thumped by Geelong.
It is not surprising that Abbott went into bat for Woodside. Not that he mentioned it in his column, but Woodside’s head of communications is his sister, Christine Forster. But sources assure us the column was entirely of his own volition. Given PM28’s predilection for fossil fuels we are sure that was the case.
GIBSON KEEPS US GUESSING
Is former North Sydney mayor, current councillor and perennial friend of this column Jilly Gibson’s 19-year tenure on the council coming to an end?
Gibson recently sold her Kirribilli pad and moved into a $2.7 million waterfront apartment in Mosman, which happens to be the neighbouring local government area. And while she’s previously assured us she’d be running again in September’s local government elections, the electoral roll suggests Gibson is now enrolled in the Mosman LGA, leaving her potentially unable to contest in North Sydney.
Surely given Gibson’s constant war of words with North Sydney’s current mayor Zoe Baker, and recent claim the council’s social media policy was akin to North Korea, she wouldn’t be moving on?
When CBD called Gibson on Tuesday afternoon, the day before council nominations closed, Gibson remained coy about her future.
“You’ll just have to wait until tomorrow and find out,” she said.
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