Talkback radio host now faces tough questions

After a tumultuous 35-year career on Sydney talkback, Alan Jones’ retirement from mainstream radio in May 2020 was welcomed by disparagers, lamented by ardent followers and greeted with relief by those who had felt his wrath. None of those reactions would have surprised Jones, who blithely brushed off decades of criticism over multiple ugly controversies.

Now a major investigation by the Herald’s chief investigative reporter, Kate McClymont, has uncovered multiple allegations that Jones used his position of power over many of those years to prey on several young men, indecently assaulting them by groping or inappropriately touching them without their consent. Jones denies all the claims.

Alan Jones in 2021.Credit: Janie Barrett

In NSW, a person who sexually touches or kisses another person without their consent is guilty of an offence, the maximum penalty for which can be up to five years’ imprisonment.

Following the publication of our investigation on Thursday, 2GB host Ray Hadley revealed he severed contact with Jones after Brad Webster, a former 2GB employee who does not want his real name used, disclosed to him allegations of indecent assault against the veteran broadcaster.

Jones issued a statement via his lawyers on Thursday, saying he intends to sue Nine over this investigation and the allegations it contains are false.

“In the short time available since publication we have obtained substantial factual information which contradicts and refutes the alleged pattern of conduct by Mr Jones,” the statement from Jones said.

We stand by our story. McClymont’s investigation was lengthy, forensic and diligent, typical of her body of work which has helped make this country a better and more civilised place.

Last month she was named winner of the prestigious Walkley Award for most outstanding contribution to journalism. It was her 10th Walkley, and fitting recognition of her decades-long status as a powerhouse of journalism and a central figure in holding to account the powerful in Australian public life.

One of the biggest questions emerging from McClymont’s investigation is how many people knew about Jones’ alleged predilections and remained silent. McClymont has been flooded with messages from people who claim that Jones either bullied or abused them, and she will now investigate these claims.

At one stage, Jones was the most popular of the talkback kings, racking up a record 226 consecutive ratings wins. Apart from the odd skirmish with the Australian Communications and Media Authority, such success brought little accountability and Jones, an extremely effective communicator, appeared to run wild and free. He proffered polarising views on climate change and immigration, and incited hatred and vilified Muslim Australians with his broadcasts in the lead-up to the 2005 Cronulla riots. Further, his verbal attacks on women turned many stomachs: in 2012 he said they were “destroying the joint” and called for then-prime minister Julia Gillard to be put in a “chaff bag” and drowned.

His 2019 tirade against New Zealand’s then-prime minister Jacinda Ardern led to advertisements declining by an estimated $20 million and he soon left his 2GB pulpit, owned by Nine Entertainment, which also owns the Herald, for lesser parishes.

Certainly, we disagreed with Jones on many issues over his career. His encouragement of racism and violence should have been unacceptable to all. The bullying, vitriolic tone he habitually used towards prime ministers, state premiers and public figures should never have been so widely accepted. Australia is the worse for it.

But these problems with his behaviour now go beyond differences of opinion. Men like Jones hold powerful people up to scrutiny. We believe it is now time that Jones was also held up to scrutiny, and the series of people who claim he indecently assaulted them and bullied them over decades be given a voice to air their claims.

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