'I was a voice for the voiceless': Jones leaves court

Jones admits having no expert evidence for claims which landed him in court - but says he had eyewitnesses

Alan Jones leaves Brisbane Supreme Court after defending defamation claims. Picture: John Weekes

ALAN Jones had no scientific or expert evidence to back up claims a quarry wall collapse caused deaths during the 2011 Grantham floods, a court has heard.

The talkback host stood by the assertion at Brisbane Supreme Court, where he's defending a $4.8million lawsuit.

"I had plenty of eyewitness evidence," he said on Monday.

"I was a voice for the voiceless."

Toowoomba-based brothers John, Denis, Neill and Joe Wagner are suing Jones, Harbour Radio, 4BC and writer Nick Cater over broadcasts made in 2014 and 2015.

The Wagners have said broadcasts contained "imputations" wrongly suggesting they were to blame for the deaths of 12 people, or the flood, when a quarry wall or levee breached or collapsed.

"I've regularly asserted that," Mr Jones said.

"You had no, first of all, hydrological evidence, at all," the Wagner's barrister Tom Blackburn said.

"No, I did not," Jones replied.

"You had no scientific evidence, expert evidence, of any kind," Mr Blackburn added.

"No, just the evidence of people's eyes," Jones responded.

The broadcaster was also questioned about his criticisms of the way the Wagners built Wellcamp Airport.

He repeatedly said he believed "corruption of process" typified the way the airport was permitted.

Mr Jones claimed locals raised several concerns about "exclusion of public involvement" at stages including the airport's zoning and planning.

"These were all major issues of public concern... they're still matters of public concern," he said.

Mr Jones left court on Monday soon after 3pm, after three days of testimony.

Asked outside court if any cross-examination upset him, he replied "Not at all."

He would not comment further.

"I think it's proper that I don't have anything to say, and allow the processes to take their course."

Last week, Jones denied that he hated the Wagners or was careless with the truth.

He equated challenges at Grantham with struggles over the New Acland mine and the battle for Aboriginal economic independence in North Queensland.

"Often things which appear regional are matters which have a very significant national interest," the broadcaster said.

The judge-alone trial before Justice Peter Flanagan continues. -NewsRegional　

Originally published as 'I was a voice for the voiceless': Jones leaves court