How Alan Jones rose to power grilling the most powerful

Over 35 years, Alan Jones established his position as Australia’s most influential radio host, quizzing eight prime ministers and 11 NSW premiers and dominating Sydney’s airwaves with 226 consecutive rating wins.

He regularly courted controversy, clashed with politicians and wielded great power. On Monday Jones was arrested over allegations that he indecently assaulted, groped or inappropriately touched multiple young men.

Alan Jones at his home in December 2023. Credit: Nine

After a nine-month investigation by Strike Force Bonnefin, detectives swooped to arrest Jones at his Circular Quay home.

The strike force was formed following a lengthy investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, which revealed in December that the 83-year-old had used his position of power over an almost 60-year period to allegedly prey on a number of young men.

Who is Alan Jones?

Alan Belford Jones was born in Oakey, Queensland, in 1941 and was schooled in Toowoomba. He graduated from Queensland and Oxford Universities with majors in English and French language, literature, politics and education. He became a teacher, working in the Queensland public school system before he joined Brisbane Grammar in 1963 as English and French master. He worked at the prestigious school for six years and helped coach the student rugby union team. From 1970 to 1975, Jones was an English teacher and rugby coach at The King’s School, Parramatta.

The premiership-winning King’s School rugby side in 1974: Coach Alan Jones is seated middle front row.Credit:

Jones also had political ambitions. In the mid-1970s, he joined the Country Party (now the Nationals), worked as speechwriter and adviser for its then-leader Doug Anthony, and stood for preselection for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro. He lost.

Alan Jones had a successful tenure as Wallabies coach. He is pictured in 1987.Credit: Ian Charles Cugley

In 1978, he stood as the Liberal Party candidate in a byelection for the NSW seat of Earlwood. He lost again. The next year, he stood for Liberal preselection for the federal seat of North Sydney but lost a third time. In 1979, he joined Malcolm Fraser’s staff as the prime minister’s speechwriter until 1981.

As a rugby union coach, Jones led Manly to victory in Sydney’s Shute Shield in 1983. He was appointed coach of Australia in 1984. Under Jones, the Wallabies won 86 out of 102 matches over four years, including Australia’s first Bledisloe Cup win in 39 years in 1986. He had a less-successful stint coaching the Balmain Tigers from 1991 to 1993.

His broadcasting career began in 1985 when he was made mornings presenter at 2UE by then kingmaker John Brennan, who had met Jones at a Wallabies function the year before. Jones turned a poorly rating breakfast show into the most listened-to program in Australia.

He left 2UE in 2002 and ratings plummeted. His new employer, 2GB, soon became Sydney’s most popular AM station.

Clashes and controversy

In May 2020, Jones announced his retirement from 2GB on doctor’s advice. Behind the scenes, Jones was being forced out on commercial grounds as advertisers had boycotted his program. Nine Entertainment, 2GB’s new owner (and the owner of the Herald and The Age) was alarmed at the estimated $20 million advertising loss following an angry tirade by Jones about then-New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Jones told his audience in August 2019 that then-prime minister Scott Morrison should “shove a sock down her throat” and he hoped Morrison “gets tough here with a few backhanders”.

Broadcaster Alan Jones at a press conference at the 2GB offices in Sydney in 2007.Credit: Fairfax

For many, it brought back Jones’ extraordinary 2012 attack on Julia Gillard in which he called for Australia’s first female prime minister to be put in a “chaff bag” and dumped at sea, also claiming that her father had “died of shame”.

There has been much criticism over the years. In 2014, Jones was forced to apologise to NSW chief scientist Mary O’Kane for suggesting the mining industry might have influenced a report she produced on coal seam gas; he was criticised in 2018 for dropping the N-word when describing senator Mathias Cormann; and later for his aggressive treatment of Opera House chief executive Louise Herron over her opposition to projecting the barrier draw for The Everest horse race onto the iconic sails.

Jones’ employers were also hit with a defamation payout of nearly $3.75 million over his wrongful claims the Wagner family in Queensland was responsible for the deaths of a dozen people in the 2011 Grantham floods.

The Daily Mirror front page after Jones was arrested in an underground public toilet in London.Credit:

But way back in 1988 his career was almost derailed following his arrest in a public toilet in London’s Soho district, a well-known gay beat. The charges of “outraging public decency” and “committing an indecent act” were subsequently dropped.

In 1999 and again in 2004, he was swept up in the cash-for-comment inquiry. In 2000, an Australian Broadcasting Authority inquiry heard Jones and fellow Sydney broadcaster John Laws had accepted hidden sponsorships to promote clients on air. Regulations were changed to make personal sponsorships more transparent.

Political clout

Eight prime ministers and 11 NSW premiers served during Jones’ media career – he grilled them all.

He wielded his influence and was a passionate supporter of former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott and an unrelenting critic of his successor Malcolm Turnbull.

“He played a big role in Turnbull going down,” said one source who saw Jones’ campaign against Turnbull close up.

Former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten got short shrift during the 2019 federal election, earning a battering over the party’s policies on energy, electric cars and negative gearing.

In NSW, his clashes with premiers were frequent, with Mike Baird in 2015 enduring particularly searing treatment over the banning of the greyhound industry (a decision that Baird eventually overturned).

Former Labor premier Bob Carr says he kept going on Jones’ show because “so many people listened to him”.

Broadcaster Alan Jones announces his retirement from radio at his home in Sydney in May 2020.Credit: AAP

On Jones’ final 2GB show in 2020, Abbott and the former federal Labor leader-turned-NSW upper house MP Mark Latham walked into his Southern Highlands home studio with champagne to celebrate. Prime minister Scott Morrison did one final interview. NSW deputy premier and Nationals leader John Barilaro phoned in saying he was the “friend of the farmer and tradie”. NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller thanked him for his support of the police.

Beyond radio

Jones joined Sky News Australia in 2013 as co-host of a program with Graham Richardson, then hosted Jones & Co in 2016 before finally helming his own nightly show in July 2020 after leaving 2GB.

In early November 2021, Jones’ contract was not renewed by Sky News. The next month he signed with the James Packer-backed Australian Digital Holdings TV, which broadcasts to a small audience via social media platforms. He last appeared on ADH TV in November last year.

Health concerns

In 2008, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and made a full recovery after surgery.

Jones spent much of the early part of 2022 on the operating table for “unconscionable” nerve pain, and again in November. He has not been broadcasting since the Herald and The Age revealed allegations of indecent assault in December last year, which he denies. Jones left Australia in the period between the allegations being aired and Christmas, but reportedly returned in February. In a five-minute video given to News Corp mastheads in early March, the then 82-year-old said he had planned to resume hosting duties on ADH TV in mid-February but could not due to a recent health diagnosis.

Alan Jones, pictured in Sydney in May, has been arrested at his Circular Quay apartment.Credit: Sam Mooy

“I have every intention of returning to broadcasting eventually. It is what I do. My work is my life. I could have retired but as I’ve often said if you stop you drop. However, I won’t be returning just now because of my latest medical assessments.”

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service (1800RESPECT) on 1800 737 732.

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