Two hours after Alan Jones was bailed, here’s how Sky News reacted

Just two hours after Alan Jones was bustled out of a Sydney police station on bail, at his former employer, Sky News, conservative pundits reacted to the arrest of their one-time colleague.

High-profile commentator Andrew Bolt said if the allegations that Jones indecently assaulted and sexually touched multiple men were proven, it would be “one of the greatest falls from grace” in Australian history.

Andrew Bolt reacted to Alan Jones’ arrest on Sky News.Credit: Sky News

Jones is facing 26 charges against nine victims, including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault. The youngest alleged victim was 17 years old. Jones denies the allegations.

“This could be one of the greatest falls from grace we have seen in this country, and if so, we are going to be asking ourselves how people bent to power and ask who else knew about what Jones allegedly did,” Bolt said on his Bolt Report program.

“The man himself seemed frozen or, I don’t know, composed,” Bolt said of the moment Jones walked out of Day Street police station.

“How much of the Jones legend will survive this? Let the courts decide.”

Bolt said that “checks were made” before the News Corp-owned network hired Jones and that they weren’t aware of the allegations when he worked at Sky News.

Alan Jones leaves Day Street police station on bail on Monday.Credit: James Brickwood

The commentator questioned if Australia’s free speech laws made it “too dangerous” for alleged victims to make allegations against powerful people.

“I wonder how, if this is true, he could allegedly abuse staff at 2GB over years and years, and not one person in authority there knew?” Bolt asked.

2GB was Jones’ former employer and is owned by Nine Entertainment, which also owns this masthead.

Former chief of staff to Tony Abbott turned Sky News presenter Peta Credlin’s reaction an hour later was to support her longtime “friend”. Credlin and Jones co-hosted a program on Sky News before he departed the station in 2021.

Sky News presenter Peta Credlin.Credit: Sky News

Credlin came out against the police and the media for what she believed was Jones’ unfair treatment when he was arrested. Credlin said it “didn’t sit right” with her that Jones was arrested at his home rather than being given the opportunity to present himself to a police station without the media knowing.

“I’ve known Alan well for nearly two decades and seen him in many different contexts, and the behaviour alleged is entirely out of character with the man I’ve known,” she said.

“I wish my friend well for what will be a difficult few months ahead. I do not know what happened in the past, but I know tonight – for everyone involved – this is a traumatic day.”

Another friend of Jones, billionaire businessman James Packer, said: “Alan Jones is my friend, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence”.

2GB mornings host Ray Hadley has made no secret of the fact he and Jones haven’t spoken in recent years.

When The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age published their investigation into Jones last year, Hadley told his listeners his relationship with Jones had “soured” and that an alleged victim had told him of allegations against Jones in 2019.

On Tuesday morning, Hadley used the opening remarks of his program to call on the public and media not to speculate on the identities of alleged victims.

“Speculation around the dinner table or at the pub or club can happen, but it won’t be happening here,” he said.

“The next time he’s in court will be December 18 … by that time, I’ll have finished on air, and I’ll be playing no public role in this matter.”

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