Inside allegations against Alan Jones

Warning: Contains sensitive content.

Alan Jones, one of the most powerful radio hosts in Australian history, has been charged by police following historic allegations of indecent assault and sexual touching, spanning two decades.

The 83-year-old veteran radio host and former Wallabies coach was arrested on Monday morning at his Circular Quay apartment overlooking the Sydney Opera House, nine months after the child abuse squad established an investigation into numerous allegations of indecent assault, and sexual touching incidents between 2001 and 2019.

On Monday afternoon, Jones was hit with 24 charges, relating to eight alleged victims, the youngest of which was 17 years old at the time of the alleged offending.

Jones has vehemently denied the accusations.

A spokesman for Jones told NewsWire they have “no idea what this is about but I have no comment”.

Reports of Jones’ alleged assaults were first aired by the Sydney Morning Herald in December 2023, where they allege Jones’ indecent behaviour spanned decades.

The radio host has vehemently and repeatedly denied the accusations, releasing a video in March in response to the slew of allegations.

“The get-Jones campaign is nothing new in my life,” he said per ADH TV.

“I am not going to dwell, here, on the allegations made about me other than to say that I refute them entirely and the inferences associated with them.”

Before becoming one of the most successful and controversial radio presenters in Australia, Jones spent three years as a speech writer and senior adviser for Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.

In 1982, he was appointed the part-time manager of the NSW Rugby Union team, later becoming coach of the Wallabies in 1984 and leading the team to 86 victories over the span of four years.

He began his broadcasting career in 1985 at 2UE, working as a morning news presenter until he departed the role for 2GB in 2002.

Best-known for hosting Sky News and his morning radio show on 2GB, the “shock jock” was regarded as one of the most powerful people in Australia, often putting pressure on prime ministers, politicians and other public figures while hosting his morning show.

It was during his 35-year tenure as a radio host that a slew of allegations came to light.

An anonymous former employee at 2GB, who was hired to complete menial jobs at the station, accused Jones of repeated indecent assault while in a car with Jones.

“You’re driving, you’re absolutely trapped … he’d go the grope,” the anonymous man alleged to the outlet.

Other accusations included Jones allegedly forcing a kiss inside an elevator and exposing himself to the 20-year-old inside the luxury penthouse, which overlooked the Sydney Opera House and was dubbed The Toaster.

At the time, the anonymous employee was afraid of the consequences if he spoke up about the allegations.

“Jones was more powerful than the prime minister,” he said.

A former radio producer, who did not wish to be named, did not claim to see Jones touching anyone’s private parts, but accused the shock jock of being “all over” the young men “on a number of occasions”. According to the producer, Jones “wouldn’t take his hands off” the men, who worked as waiters, musicians and singers on the show, making them feel “very embarrassed and uncomfortable”.

Other allegations from musicians, waiters and former employees have been unearthed in the investigation, who accused the radio host of assaulting them while at his apartment and in restaurants. One musician said they were terrified of the consequences if they were to speak out.

In 2017, a male student was invited to spend the weekend with Jones, who was 75 at the time, in his Fitzroy Falls property in the Southern Highlands of NSW, following reports of the boy’s troubles at home and dealing with the loss of his sister.

The boy accused Jones of kissing him on the lips and placing his left hand on his bum cheek. The boy told authorities he then pushed Jones away and ran into the bathroom, where he repeatedly scrubbed his mouth out with soap and a loofah “inside and out, as much as I could”.

After working at 2GB for nearly two decades, Jones announced his retirement in May 202 citing health reasons.

He then began hosting The Alan Jones Program on Sky News Australia, but departed in November 2021 after his contract was not renewed, later moving to streaming channel ADH TV.

His last show aired in November 2023.