ACMA finds Alan Jones breached broadcasting rules over climate change, Jacinda Ardern comments

Alan Jones has issued an on-air correction after the media watchdog found his comments to be inaccurate and violated decency rules.

2GB breakfast host Alan Jones was found to have breached broadcasting rules with comments regarding New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and climate change in August, 2019. Pictures: AAP/Getty Images

Nine Entertainment, the owner of 2GB, was told of an ACMA final breach finding against star broadcaster Alan Jones six weeks before he attended a meeting with key executives about his retirement from radio.

On Thursday, Jones was forced to issue an on-air correction following a finding by the media regulator that the controversial talkback radio host had breached decency rules last year when he suggested Scott Morrison should “shove a sock” down the throat of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and be “tough with a few backhanders”.

He was also found in breach of broadcasting rules in August last year in relation to inaccurate claims about biomass being a fossil fuel, and incorrect comparisons of Australia and New Zealand’s use of solar and wind.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority found Jones had used “violent metaphors” to encourage “aggressive silencing” of the New Zealand Prime Minister.

Jones issued an on-air apology on the day of the show, and followed this up with an on-air clarification the next day and a written apology to Ms Ardern.

Station management also advised ACMA it had counselled Jones following his comments, including a warning from Nine chief executive Hugh Marks.

“The repeated use of violent metaphors by Mr Jones and his apparent encouragement of aggressive silencing of Ms Ardern was highly offensive and did not meet contemporary community expectations,” ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said.

“This was evident in the public display of outrage from the community, actions by advertisers and actions by then chairman of Macquarie Media who publicly stated that any recurrence of this type of comment would result in the termination of Mr Jones’s contract.”

The comments led to a large-scale advertiser boycott of Jones’s program, with some estimating it cost 2GB and its owner up to $6m a year.

There had been ongoing discussions between ACMA and former 2GB boss Russell Tate since September last year on the sanction, with Jones and Tate both accepting there would be breach findings.

The Australian understands Nine Radio had been informed in mid-March of the final breach findings, just six weeks before Jones’s decision to retire.

Nine has declined to comment but sources close to Jones were yesterday adamant it did not contribute to his departure.

As The Australian revealed last week, Jones met with Nine Radio boss Tom Malone on May 1 at Jones’s Southern Highlands property, at which it was decided Jones would step down.

Both Nine and Jones have maintained that the 79-year-old decided to leave due to ill-health.

Ms O’Loughlin added that due to Jones’s imminent retirement and the actions taken at the time, the broadcaster and 2GB will face no further discipline over the breach of decency rules.

More than 80 companies pulled advertising and publicly distanced themselves from Jones and the network following the Ardern comments.

Nine Entertainment, owner of 2GB, declined to comment.