Alan Jones’ career of controversy continues after indecent assault and sexual touching charges
The arrest and charging of Alan Jones is the latest instalment in a long career of controversy.
Once one of the most popular and powerful media personalities in Australia, Jones was arrested by police on Monday morning following an investigation by the Nine newspapers that alleged he had abused his position of power to sexually harass and assault young men.
The 83-year-old was on Monday afternoon charged by NSW Police with 24 offences against eight victims, including aggravated indecent assault, assault with acts of indecency, sexually touching and common assault.
Jones’ lawyer Chris Murphy said his client will be defending the charges.
“He’s presumed innocent,” Murphy told reporters outside the Sydney police station as Jones sat behind the tinted windows of a Lexus.
The veteran broadcaster has most recently been a star host on conservative streaming site ADH TV following his departure from 2GB and Sky News in 2020 and 2021.
Jones has been called one of Australia’s most powerful media personalities and has bragged about his direct line to former prime minister John Howard. Photo: AAPBefore his media career, he was a school teacher, Wallabies coach and speechwriter, and made several failed tilts at entering politics.
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A career of controversy
Jones began hosting a morning radio show in 1985, but he is mostly known for his time at 2GB, which he joined in 2002.
Throughout his career in broadcasting, critics accused him of accepting payment for positive on-air comments for companies like Telstra and Qantas, in what became known as the “cash for comment affair”.
Jones has faced multiple defamation lawsuits throughout his career in radio, TV and print media.
One of his most notorious moments occurred during his coverage of the 2005 Cronulla riots.
That episode, in which Jones referred on air to Lebanese Muslims in 2005 as “vermin” who “rape and pillage”, ultimately resulted in a guilty finding against him for racial vilification.
“I’m the person that’s led this charge here. No one seemed to want to know about North Cronulla and now it’s gathered to this,” Jones said following the riots.
“I’m just saying to all those young people, let’s see if the full force of the law works.”
He stoked further controversy in September 2012 when he suggested that then-Australian prime minister Julia Gillard’s father, who had passed, “died of shame”.
Despite an outpouring of criticism and advertisers fleeing his show, Jones returned to the airwaves without issue.
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He again courted accusations of misogyny and was found to have broken community standards by Australia’s media watchdog, when he remarked during an on-air rant that “I just wonder whether Scott Morrison’s going to be fully briefed to shove a sock down” the throat of former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
“Now I hope Scott Morrison gets tough here with a few backhanders,” Jones said.
“I hope he goes for the throat this morning”.
His use of racial slurs on air has also been heavily criticised.
The investigation
His arrest followed an investigation by the Nine newspapers where Jones was accused by former employees at 2GB of fondling and sexually harassing them.
Jones threatened to sue the owner of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, where the story was published but never commenced legal action.
“Our client denies ever having indecently assaulted the persons referred to in your letter, and your suggestion that he has is scandalous, grossly offensive and seriously defamatory of him,” his lawyers at the time, Mark O’Brien Legal, wrote to the SMH.
Jones is now represented by Bryan Wrench of Murphy’s Lawyers.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said Jones had been arrested after a “long, thorough and protracted” investigation.
“I did visit the strikeforce some weeks and months ago to look at the work they have been doing,” she said.
“Those officers have been working tirelessly to lead to today’s operation.”
Jones has been accused of indecent behaviour and sexual assault several times throughout his decades-long career.
His legal troubles have also extended to contempt of court and defamation findings against him across several decades.
He has repeatedly denied accusations that he sexually assaulted young men throughout his career.
