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== Controversy == == Controversy ==
===Outraging public decency charges===
In December 1988, Jones was arrested in a public lavatory in London's ]. He was charged with two counts of outraging public decency, but after he pleaded not guilty, police dropped the charges and he was awarded costs.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Alan Jones Chronology | work =
| publisher = ]
| date =
| url = http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s551929.htm
| doi =
| accessdate =29 May 2008}}</ref>

===Plagiarism=== ===Plagiarism===
For a time until 1990, Jones had been writing for '']'' but it announced that Jones' column would no longer appear following a petition by staff calling for his removal as a contributor. This followed Jones' publication of a column predicting an oil crisis, in which a large amount of material had been taken from ]'s novel '']'' without attribution or indication that their source was a work of fiction.<ref>{{cite web For a time until 1990, Jones had been writing for '']'' but it announced that Jones' column would no longer appear following a petition by staff calling for his removal as a contributor. This followed Jones' publication of a column predicting an oil crisis, in which a large amount of material had been taken from ]'s novel '']'' without attribution or indication that their source was a work of fiction.<ref>{{cite web
Line 236: Line 227:
===Parker v Jones=== ===Parker v Jones===
Later that year, Jones in his role with 2UE was ordered by a court to pay more than $55,000 damages for ] David Parker, a former councillor of the ], the NSW Motorists' organisation; 2UE was also ordered to pay $80,000. Parker claimed he was defamed during the NRMA election campaign in October 1986.<ref name=FourCorners>{{cite web|title=Alan Jones Chronology|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s551929.htm|work=Four Corners|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=3 October 2012}}</ref> Later that year, Jones in his role with 2UE was ordered by a court to pay more than $55,000 damages for ] David Parker, a former councillor of the ], the NSW Motorists' organisation; 2UE was also ordered to pay $80,000. Parker claimed he was defamed during the NRMA election campaign in October 1986.<ref name=FourCorners>{{cite web|title=Alan Jones Chronology|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s551929.htm|work=Four Corners|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=3 October 2012}}</ref>

In July 1991, Jones said of a witness (a self-confessed heroin smuggler) in the conspiracy to murder trial of ] and two others, "Why is he the witness and not the defendant?" Though the comment was said to be dangerous, ] was not proved.<ref name=FourCorners />


===1992=== ===1992===
* Jones was rebuked by the ] ] for making attacks on former State Minister Dr ] during evidence in an inquiry relating to Metherell's appointment to a government job.<ref name=FourCorners /> * Jones was rebuked by the ] ] for making attacks on former State Minister Dr ] during evidence in an inquiry relating to Metherell's appointment to a government job.<ref name=FourCorners />
* '']'' showed how on-air comments made by Jones about the Rio summit and the ] aligned with those made by ] in '']''. Santamaria later said Jones had contacted his office for permission to quote from the article.<ref name=FourCorners />
* Jones and 2UE were found guilty of contempt of court after the criminal trial of ex-policeman John Killen was aborted following an interview with a former Drug Enforcement Squad officer.<ref name=FourCorners /> * Jones and 2UE were found guilty of contempt of court after the criminal trial of ex-policeman John Killen was aborted following an interview with a former Drug Enforcement Squad officer.<ref name=FourCorners />


Line 252: Line 240:
* In April, after only 13 weeks and 64 episodes, the ] program '']'' was pulled due to low audiences and criticism.<ref name=FourCorners /> It was intended to be similar in purpose and content to '']''.<ref name=FourCorners /> * In April, after only 13 weeks and 64 episodes, the ] program '']'' was pulled due to low audiences and criticism.<ref name=FourCorners /> It was intended to be similar in purpose and content to '']''.<ref name=FourCorners />
* In July, '']'' highlighted Jones' on-air promotion of ].<ref name=FourCorners /> * In July, '']'' highlighted Jones' on-air promotion of ].<ref name=FourCorners />
* In November, Don Mackay, president of the NRMA sued Jones and 2UE, alleging that Jones made a number of false imputations against him.<ref name=FourCorners />
* In November:

** Separately, Don Mackay, president of the NRMA sued Jones and 2UE, alleging that Jones made a number of false imputations against him.<ref name=FourCorners />
** Further, Jones had a public falling-out with his 2UE colleague, broadcaster John Laws. In an interview with Laws, then Prime Minister ], who had declined to appear on Jones's show that year, said of Jones "You know, he's got a good-rating program, even though it's basically, you know, most of the stuff is middle-of-the-road fascism". <ref name=FourCorners />


===Harrigan v Jones=== ===Harrigan v Jones===
In 1998 Jones claimed on-air that ] ] ] was biased. Harrigan sued Jones for defamation and, in 2001, was awarded damages of $90,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mullinslaw.com.au/Admin/Files/130.pdf |format=PDF|title=Harrigan v Jones |accessdate=30 March 2008 |author=Highfield, Michael |month=December | year=2001 |work=M & M Sport |publisher=Mullins & Mullins |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080719114922/http://mullinslaw.com.au/Admin/Files/130.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 19 July 2008}}</ref> In 1998 Jones claimed on-air that ] ] ] was biased. Harrigan sued Jones for defamation and, in 2001, was awarded damages of $90,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mullinslaw.com.au/Admin/Files/130.pdf |format=PDF|title=Harrigan v Jones |accessdate=30 March 2008 |author=Highfield, Michael |month=December | year=2001 |work=M & M Sport |publisher=Mullins & Mullins |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080719114922/http://mullinslaw.com.au/Admin/Files/130.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 19 July 2008}}</ref>


In the late 1990s, Jones suffered more public humiliation when unedited studio recordings of pre-recorded material he had taped at 2UE were leaked to the ABC radio station ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/jones |title=The Closet Recordings of Alan Jones |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |work=Triple J}}</ref> In the late 1990s, Jones suffered public humiliation when unedited studio recordings of pre-recorded material he had taped at 2UE were leaked to the ABC radio station ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/jones |title=The Closet Recordings of Alan Jones |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |work=Triple J}}</ref>


===Coates v Jones=== ===Coates v Jones===
Line 287: Line 274:
|title=Alan Jones: I'm the person that's led this charge |first=David |last=Marr |publisher=] |date=13 December 2005 |accessdate=6 March 2007 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/alan-jones-i-led-this-charge/2005/12/12/1134236003153.html |location=Melbourne}}</ref> During his on-air rebuttal of the ACMA findings on 10 April 2007, Jones stated that by referring to his show as "Breakfast with Alan Jones", the ] had little credibility as his show was actually known as "The Alan Jones Show". However, the ] website prior to this broadcast clearly showed the Jones program as being "Breakfast with Alan Jones",<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:TZkQrMLC6YcJ:www.2gb.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_homepage%26id%3D1%26Itemid%3D44+breakfast+with+alan+jones&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=au|title=Breakfast with Alan Jones homepage |publisher=2GB Radio|date=10 April 2007|accessdate=16 April 2007}}</ref> this was changed after the broadcast of Jones' rebuttal to be "Alan Jones Show".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_homepage&id=1&Itemid=44|title=Alan Jones Show homepage |publisher=2GB Radio|date=16 April 2007|accessdate=16 April 2007| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070430070303/http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_homepage&id=1&Itemid=44| archivedate= 30 April 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> |title=Alan Jones: I'm the person that's led this charge |first=David |last=Marr |publisher=] |date=13 December 2005 |accessdate=6 March 2007 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/alan-jones-i-led-this-charge/2005/12/12/1134236003153.html |location=Melbourne}}</ref> During his on-air rebuttal of the ACMA findings on 10 April 2007, Jones stated that by referring to his show as "Breakfast with Alan Jones", the ] had little credibility as his show was actually known as "The Alan Jones Show". However, the ] website prior to this broadcast clearly showed the Jones program as being "Breakfast with Alan Jones",<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:TZkQrMLC6YcJ:www.2gb.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_homepage%26id%3D1%26Itemid%3D44+breakfast+with+alan+jones&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=au|title=Breakfast with Alan Jones homepage |publisher=2GB Radio|date=10 April 2007|accessdate=16 April 2007}}</ref> this was changed after the broadcast of Jones' rebuttal to be "Alan Jones Show".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_homepage&id=1&Itemid=44|title=Alan Jones Show homepage |publisher=2GB Radio|date=16 April 2007|accessdate=16 April 2007| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070430070303/http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_homepage&id=1&Itemid=44| archivedate= 30 April 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>


Once again, David Flint leapt to Jones' defence by appearing on Jones' morning show "to support his friend and to condemn the process that found him guilty. He told 2GB listeners that the vigilante movement existed at Cronulla long before Jones began broadcasting and that the ACMA findings amounted to a classic case of shoot the messenger. He said the complaints process was flawed because, unlike the Press Council, Jones could not face or question his accusers".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/shock-and-awe/2007/04/13/1175971273202.html?page=4|title=Shock and awe|publisher=The Age|date=13 April 2007|accessdate=19 April 2007|location=Melbourne}}</ref> David Flint again defended Jones by appearing on Jones' morning show "to support his friend and to condemn the process that found him guilty. He told 2GB listeners that the vigilante movement existed at Cronulla long before Jones began broadcasting and that the ACMA findings amounted to a classic case of shoot the messenger. He said the complaints process was flawed because, unlike the Press Council, Jones could not face or question his accusers".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/shock-and-awe/2007/04/13/1175971273202.html?page=4|title=Shock and awe|publisher=The Age|date=13 April 2007|accessdate=19 April 2007|location=Melbourne}}</ref>


The NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal upheld a complaint of racial vilification against Jones and 2GB on 21 December 2009.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= |authorlink= | title=Court rules Alan Jones 'racially vilified' Muslim youths | date=22 December 2009 | publisher=Herald and Weekly Times | url =http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/court-rules-alan-jones-racially-vilified-muslim-youths/story-e6frf7jx-1225812932757 | work =heraldsun.com.au | pages = | accessdate =28 December 2009 | language = }}</ref> The tribunal said:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adtjudgments/2009nswadt.nsf/f1a6baff573a075dca256862002912ec/5e78e4a70e578ee4ca25768f00169e3b?OpenDocument |title=Trad v Jones & anor (No. 3) NSWADT 318 |accessdate=28 December 2009 |date=21 December 2009 |publisher=Administrative Decisions Tribunal }}</ref> The NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal upheld a complaint of racial vilification against Jones and 2GB on 21 December 2009.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= |authorlink= | title=Court rules Alan Jones 'racially vilified' Muslim youths | date=22 December 2009 | publisher=Herald and Weekly Times | url =http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/court-rules-alan-jones-racially-vilified-muslim-youths/story-e6frf7jx-1225812932757 | work =heraldsun.com.au | pages = | accessdate =28 December 2009 | language = }}</ref> The tribunal said:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adtjudgments/2009nswadt.nsf/f1a6baff573a075dca256862002912ec/5e78e4a70e578ee4ca25768f00169e3b?OpenDocument |title=Trad v Jones & anor (No. 3) NSWADT 318 |accessdate=28 December 2009 |date=21 December 2009 |publisher=Administrative Decisions Tribunal }}</ref>

Revision as of 01:24, 6 October 2012

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Rugby player
Alan Jones
Alan Jones as Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the musical Annie.
Birth nameAlan Belford Jones
Date of birth (1941-04-13) 13 April 1941 (age 83)
Place of birthOakey, Queensland, Australia
SchoolToowoomba Grammar School
UniversityKelvin Grove Teachers College
University of Queensland
University of Oxford(non-degree course)
Occupation(s)Radio presenter
Rugby union career
Coaching career
Years Team
1983
1984–87
Manly Marlins
Wallabies
Official website
Alan Jones at 2GB

Alan Belford Jones AO (born 13 April 1941 (some sources also claim 1942 or 1943)) is an Australian radio broadcaster. He is also a former coach of the Australian National Rugby Union Team and rugby league coach and administrator. He has worked as a school teacher, a speech writer in the office of the Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and in musical theatre. He attended Queensland and Oxford Universities. He has been a recipient of various civil and industry awards.

Jones hosts Sydney's most popular breakfast radio program, on radio station 2GB. Like his former colleague and competitor John Laws, the popularity of Jones' program (a mixture of talkback, interviews, opinion and commercial endorsements) has made him one of Australia's most highly paid media personalities. Jones is highly politically motivated and sometimes uses his program and his popularity to advocate his conservative views; he has been described as one of the most influential broadcasters in Australia.

His on-air conduct has attracted numerous adverse findings from Australia's media regulators, and one on-air incident resulted in Jones being charged with contempt of court, of which he was found guilty of breaching the law but the charge was dismissed.

Early life

Jones was born and raised on a dairy farm near Oakey in south-east Queensland, and attended primary school at Acland State School, before attending Toowoomba Grammar School as a boarder.

After leaving school, he trained as a teacher at the Kelvin Grove Teachers College (now part of the Queensland University of Technology) in Brisbane. After this training, in 1961 he taught first at a state primary school, then in 1963 obtained a position at the Brisbane Grammar School for boys. He studied part-time University of Queensland for a Bachelor of Arts degree, which he was awarded in 1969.

In 1970, Jones was appointed Senior English Master at The King's School, Parramatta in Sydney's west, where he coached the rugby union side to victory in 1974. Jones was later asked to leave. Later that year, another parent at Kings, Doug Anthony, leader of the Country Party (now the National Party of Australia) in the Australian Parliament, offered Jones a position with the party in Canberra. The next year, he sought party preselection as the candidate for the parliamentary seat of Eden-Monaro, but he was unsuccessful at the election.

Jones went to Oxford University in 1977 to undertake a non-degree diploma course, distinct from the University's traditional graduate and undergraduate programmes. He excelled at tennis, in which he won a University Blue.

Returning to Australia, he was the candidate for the July 1978 by-election for the NSW state seat of Earlwood for the Liberal Party of Australia, formerly held by deposed Liberal leader Sir Eric Willis. The formerly safe seat was lost, and Jones' antics at a Greek cultural event were called into question. Notwithstanding this, he again contested the seat for the Liberal Party at the 1978 New South Wales state election held in October. This time the ALP candidate was returned with an even greater majority despite the absence, on this occasion, of a Gay Liberation and another three conservative party and independent candidates. Jones then worked for several years as a speech writer for NSW Opposition leader John Mason, meanwhile standing for preselection for the Federal seat of North Sydney.

In 1979, Jones again moved to Canberra, where he was a speech writer for the Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Fraser, until early 1981. He then moved back to Sydney to be Executive Director of the Employers' Federation of NSW, which he held until 1985.

Later life

In July 2008 Jones underwent surgery for prostate cancer. In December 2008, he had surgery to remove a benign brain tumour.

Rugby football coaching

Union

1982 was the beginning of Jones' association with semi-professional rugby, firstly appointed as (part-time) manager of the NSW Rugby Union team. The next year he served as First Grade coach for the Manly Rugby Union team, which won the Premiership for the first time in 32 years.

In February 1984, Alan Jones replaced Bob Dwyer as coach of the Australian Rugby Union national team (the Wallabies) and he was to coach the Australian team for 4 years with victories in 102 matches including 23 victories in 30 Tests, making him one of the more successful Australian coaches. When he took the team on it included Mark Ella, and it soon recruited Peter FitzSimons and James Black, both Manley players, and Nick Farr-Jones. Also in 1984, Australia's national team, the Wallabies, won the Grand Slam victories over England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and a Barbarians side made up of the best players of those countries and France.

The 1986 Bledisloe Cup victory against New Zealand in New Zealand was the first time that had been achieved in 39 years. Jones was awarded the Rostrum Speakers' Award as the Communicator of the Year, and named the 1985 Confederation of Australian Sport as Australia's Coach of the Year. However, Jones also pulled out of the Liberal preselection for the Federal Division of Wentworth in Sydney.

In 1988, Jones was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to Rugby Union football. 1989 saw Jones elected to the Confederation of Australian Sports' Hall of Fame in recognition of his contribution to Australian Sport as the Australian Rugby Union coach.

In October 2007, Jones signalled his interest in coaching the Wallabies after Queensland Rugby Chairman Peter Lewis suggested to the media he be the right person for the job. "If Peter Lewis and the Queensland Rugby Union – who have played a major role in Australian rugby for many years – are of the view I am the person who can make that contribution then I am obligated to put my hand up and say, 'Well if that is the case, I'm available'."

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) on 14 December 2007 ruled Jones out of the coaching position, instead appointing New Zealand Crusaders coach Robbie Deans. ARU Chairman Peter McGrath however left the door open for a future position for Jones, saying there would "always be a place" for the former coach and radio broadcaster.

League

In 1990, he switched codes, being appointed coach of the Balmain Tigers rugby league football club, without accepting a fee. He resigned in July 1993 with these results: 1991 – 8 wins, 12th place; 1992 – 10 wins, 10th place; 1993 – five wins, 12th place. The next month he was appointed Director of Football for the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league football club, also without a fee.

Radio and the media

1985 saw Jones join Sydney radio station 2UE as the morning show host after John Laws left for 2GB. He moved to the 5.30am to 9.00am Breakfast slot in February 1988, and achieved the largest breakfast audience and also the largest radio audience in Australia.

His opening and closing theme music from both stations has been the hit Gloria by Laura Branigan, whom he met and was the inspiration for using the song.

In 1990–93 and 1995–97, Jones was awarded the title Australian Radio Talk Personality of the Year.

In 2001, Jones was awarded both the Centenary Medal and the Australian Sports Medal. Both were awarded for his significant contributions to sport and the broadcasting industry.

In 2002, Jones joined 2GB as breakfast announcer, reportedly also taking a financial interest in the station. When passionate about a topic, he occasionally discusses it on air and during ad breaks with his panel operator Ross Geddes. Afternoon announcer, Philip Clark occasionally appears on Jones' show to show support to big news items. Jason Morrison is a daily contributor with two appearances to discuss news items and also filling in for Alan should he be on leave. Along with his radio show, he also did a segment making editorial comment on the Nine Network's Today.

On 6 June 2007, Jones ended his 7.15am editorial on Nine Network's Today. His last editorial was on 15 June.

In 2008, Jones' audience numbers began to slip, with strong competition from ABC Radio 702, though he retains his number one position with a slim margin.

In 2011 Jones was the most listened to radio commentator in Sydney with an audience share of 19.2 per cent.

Political lobbying by issue

Alan Jones has been an active participant in national debates for some decades. A former candidate for Liberal Party of Australia preselection, and former adviser to Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, Jones is a noted supporter of conservative politics in Australia. He has nonetheless at different times criticised or joined forces with Australian politicians from across the party-political spectrum to lobby for political causes.

Recent criticisms of the Left in Australia

Alan Jones has been a longstanding critic of many of the policies and personalities of left-wing politics in Australia.

In recent years, a key point of interest for Jones has been climate change policy. Jones does not believe in significant Anthropogenic Climate Change and has been highly critical of moves to use the Australian taxation system as a means of reducing carbon emissions. Since the 2010 Australian Federal Election, Jones has been highly critical of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's decision to reverse her pre-election promise not to introduce a carbon tax under a government she led. As a Sydney-based broadcaster, Jones also expresses fervent opinions on the actions of the office of the Lord Mayor of Sydney. He has been highly critical of incumbent Lord Mayor Clover Moore's efforts to close many lane ways and parking areas in the city of Sydney to cars. Jones says that this unduly inconveniences long-distance commuters and adversely affects city based businesses. On 29 June 2011, Jones said of the Lord Mayor of Sydney ... "put her in the same chaff bag as Julia Gillard and throw them both out to sea" and about Greens leader Bob Brown ... "The woman's off her tree and quite frankly they should shove her and Bob Brown in a chaff bag and take them as far out to sea as they can and tell them to swim home." Also in February 2011 Jones asked Julia Gillard how she felt about being called "Ju-liar" following her announcement of an intention to introduce a new carbon tax, despite her Party's express promises not to do so:

Do you understand, Julia, that you are the issue today, because there are people now saying your name is not Julia but Ju-liar and they are saying that we've got a liar running the country

He also criticised her for being 10 minutes late for his program. These comments were widely reported and attracted condemnation from his media critics, including ABC Television's Jonathan Holmes of Media Watch.

Infrastructure

Jones has often sought to focus national attention on infrastructure issues.

Jones has focused much attention on water issues - calling for consideration of expanding Australia's irrigation and dam systems. He stridently opposed the Iemma Labor Government's plan to privatise the Snowy Mountains Scheme in 2006 and broadcast from Mildura in 2011 to focus attention on the Gillard Government's Murray-Darling Basin Plan and criticise the government's approach, saying "we're seeing policy made without any consultation with people who are the stakeholders – the farmers".

Coal seam gas mining
Jones addressing a coal seam gas protest meeting in Bowral on 19 November 2011.

Jones has been an active campaigner against Coal seam gas mining in prime agricultural regions in Australia. Jones told ABC Television:

I think this is the biggest issue facing Australia today... our food-producing capacity in Queensland has been compromised by open cut coal mining and coal seam gas mining. I mean, when you think that 90 per cent of the Darling Downs, which is one of world's great food bowls, is under a mineral licence of some sort or another, when you think that they're going to have 20 to 30 open cut coal mines in the next 15 years, 40,000 coal seam gas wells, I mean, no-one can be serious when they talk about food security and the great opportunities for us in Asia when our prime agricultural land is being surrendered to mining.

In October 2011, Jones addressed the National Press Club on the issue.

Stage musical

Alan Jones had his stage musical debut in 2012, playing the role of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the Lyric Theatre's production of Annie the Musical in Sydney.

Charity work

In 2004, Jones received a Queen's Birthday Honour – an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) partly for his service to the media and sports' administration, but also helping many charities, including Youth Off The Streets, the Children's Hospital, Starlight Children's Foundation, the Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation and the Heart Research Institute.

Controversy

Plagiarism

For a time until 1990, Jones had been writing for The Sun-Herald but it announced that Jones' column would no longer appear following a petition by staff calling for his removal as a contributor. This followed Jones' publication of a column predicting an oil crisis, in which a large amount of material had been taken from Frederick Forsyth's novel The Negotiator without attribution or indication that their source was a work of fiction. Following his dismissal, Jones was hired by the Sun-Herald's rival paper, The Sunday Telegraph.

Parker v Jones

Later that year, Jones in his role with 2UE was ordered by a court to pay more than $55,000 damages for defaming David Parker, a former councillor of the NRMA, the NSW Motorists' organisation; 2UE was also ordered to pay $80,000. Parker claimed he was defamed during the NRMA election campaign in October 1986.

1992

  • Jones was rebuked by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption for making attacks on former State Minister Dr Terry Metherell during evidence in an inquiry relating to Metherell's appointment to a government job.
  • Jones and 2UE were found guilty of contempt of court after the criminal trial of ex-policeman John Killen was aborted following an interview with a former Drug Enforcement Squad officer.

1993

  • In January, Jones described the choice of Mandawuy Yunupingu (an Australian Aborigine) as Australian of the Year as an "insult" and said he'd been granted the award simply because he was black.
  • In March, Jones and 2UE were prosecuted by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions for contempt of court and fined $77,000, of which Jones' share was $2,000, after Jones caused the trial of a policeman to be aborted: the policeman was facing a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice on the same day as Jones conducted an interview with the Police Association and dealt with allegations that police had suffered at the hands of false accusations.
  • In June, leading Australian Aborigine Charles Perkins and Jones clashed in a live TV and radio debate. Jones said Australians are "getting no say when say this is nation; it's not, it's Australia's nation"... " are being asked to pay taxes to fund people who are seeking title to productive land to which they've made no contribution to its productivity". Perkins called Jones racist and a redneck and commented "You've sat on your white bum at 2UE in Sydney all your life so you wouldn't know what goes on out there".

1994

  • In April, after only 13 weeks and 64 episodes, the Network Ten program Alan Jones Live was pulled due to low audiences and criticism. It was intended to be similar in purpose and content to Larry King Live.
  • In July, Media Watch highlighted Jones' on-air promotion of Optus.
  • In November, Don Mackay, president of the NRMA sued Jones and 2UE, alleging that Jones made a number of false imputations against him.


Harrigan v Jones

In 1998 Jones claimed on-air that rugby league referee Bill Harrigan was biased. Harrigan sued Jones for defamation and, in 2001, was awarded damages of $90,000.

In the late 1990s, Jones suffered public humiliation when unedited studio recordings of pre-recorded material he had taped at 2UE were leaked to the ABC radio station Triple J.

Coates v Jones

In 2008 Jones was found to have defamed Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates in comments Jones made regarding Coates' handling of an incident involving rower Sally Robbins' performance at the 2004 Olympics.

"Cash for comment"

Between 1999 and 2000, the Cash for comment investigation was conducted. Jones had been accused of contracting to have personal commercial support in exchange for favourable "unscripted" comments, principally for Telstra and Qantas, during his radio show. The independent Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV show, Media Watch, was heavily involved in exposing these practices. The Australian Broadcasting Authority finally decided that disclosure had to be made, hence the "Commercial Agreement Register" at the Jones portion of his station's web site. (Jones was investigated along with John Laws from 2UE).

Impartiality of Flint

In April 2004, another scandal broke after it was revealed the Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Authority, David Flint, who had headed the Cash for comment inquiries, had sent a stream of admiring letters to Alan Jones. This called into question the impartiality of Flint, and the then Federal Minister for Communications, Daryl Williams, was embroiled in media speculation as to the future of Flint. With an inquiry imminent, Flint resigned. In an appearance on the ABC's Enough Rope, John Laws accused Jones of placing pressure on Prime Minister John Howard to keep Flint as head of the ABA, made comments that many viewers took to imply a sexual relationship between Jones and Flint and broadly hinted that Jones was homosexual like Flint, who is openly gay.

2005 Cronulla riots

In December 2005, in the lead-up to the Cronulla riots, Jones used his breakfast radio program to read out and discuss a widely-circulated text message calling on people to "Come to Cronulla this weekend to take revenge... get down to North Cronulla to support the Leb and wog bashing day", which was similarly discussed in the wider media including on the front page of publications like the Sydney Morning Herald. Media commentator David Marr accused Jones of inciting racial tensions and implicitly encouraging violence and vigilantism by the manner of his responses to callers even while he was verbally disapproving of them taking the law into their own hands.

On 10 April 2007, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that the broadcaster 2GB and Jones had broadcast material (specifically comments made by Jones between 5–9 December 2005) that was likely to encourage violence or brutality and to vilify people of Lebanese and Middle-Eastern backgrounds on the basis of ethnicity. During his on-air rebuttal of the ACMA findings on 10 April 2007, Jones stated that by referring to his show as "Breakfast with Alan Jones", the ACMA had little credibility as his show was actually known as "The Alan Jones Show". However, the 2GB website prior to this broadcast clearly showed the Jones program as being "Breakfast with Alan Jones", this was changed after the broadcast of Jones' rebuttal to be "Alan Jones Show".

David Flint again defended Jones by appearing on Jones' morning show "to support his friend and to condemn the process that found him guilty. He told 2GB listeners that the vigilante movement existed at Cronulla long before Jones began broadcasting and that the ACMA findings amounted to a classic case of shoot the messenger. He said the complaints process was flawed because, unlike the Press Council, Jones could not face or question his accusers".

The NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal upheld a complaint of racial vilification against Jones and 2GB on 21 December 2009. The tribunal said:

His comments about "Lebanese males in their vast numbers" hating Australia and raping, pillaging and plundering the country, about a "national security" crisis, and about the undermining of Australian culture by "vermin" were reckless hyperbole calculated to agitate and excite his audience without providing them with much in the way of solid information.

Jonestown

Main article: Jonestown: The Power and the Myth of Alan Jones

Jonestown: The Power and the Myth of Alan Jones (Allen & Unwin), is an unauthorised biography of Jones by Australian journalist Chris Masters.

Extracts of the book published in The Sydney Morning Herald concentrated largely on Jones's sexuality, his questionable behaviour while Senior English Master at The King's School and the "cottaging" incident in a London public toilet. The book claims that Jones is a homosexual and that his denial of this is "a defining feature of the Jones persona".

Contempt of court charges

Jones was originally convicted of breaching the Children's (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW), by broadcasting the suppressed name of a juvenile witness in a murder trial.

The deputy chief magistrate, Helen Syme, criticised Jones for not issuing an on-air apology to the boy he had named, and said that Jones' offence was "serious". The magistrate placed Jones on a nine month good-behaviour bond, fined him $1000.

Outside the court, Jones said, "The court found it was not a simple mistake. My view does not count."

In February 2008 Jones lost an appeal against his conviction. His lawyers told the judge they would be challenging the penalty at a future date.

On 27 March 2008, Jones's criminal conviction was quashed. The judge presiding over the appeal, Judge Michael Finnane, said: "While it was no excuse from liability in law that Mr Jones relied on The Daily Telegraph, the fact that he did, to some extent ameliorates the seriousness of the offence." The judge confirmed Jones' guilt, but dismissed the charge and annulled the conviction.

Kovco comments

On Wednesday 18 October 2007 it was revealed that NSW State Coroner Mary Jerram was referring Jones and The Daily Telegraph to the NSW Supreme Court for comments made the Friday earlier relating to the inquest into the death of Private Jake Kovco. Jones claimed that assisting counsel John Agius had unfairly attempted to persuade Kovco's mother into refusing a jury inquest, comments which Jerram stated could prejudice the inquest.

Business endorsements

Alan Jones has personally endorsed two failed businesses, the Ronald Coles investment gallery (an art investment group), and Fincorp (a high-yield interest property investment company) which Jones described as a "great Australian company". Both companies have since folded under suspicious circumstances, leaving many of their backers with significant financial loss.

Military trial commentary and criticism of Brigadier McDade

An episode of the ABC's Media Watch was devoted to Alan Jones' pre-trial comments supportive of three soldiers charged over an incident in Afghanistan, including one soldier charged with manslaughter. The comments were seen to be 'in contempt of court' but as the court had not yet been convened at the time of the comments, Jones could not be charged. He also vilified Brigadier McDade.

Breach of radio standards

On 25 November 2011 the Australian Communications and Media Authority found that Jones had breached the commercial radio code of practice in his reporting of environmental issues. His reporting was found to lack accuracy and failing to allow other viewpoints to be heard. A decision on the penalty for this breach was reserved.

Clout comments

Jones was sued in December 2011 by health bureaucrat Terry Clout over comments made by Jones in March 2009.

Unsubstantiated comments on climate change

On 15 June 2012 the Australian Communications and Media Authority found that Jones had breached the commercial radio code of practice in his reporting of environmental issues.This related to his claim that "human beings produce 0.001 per cent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere". ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said that the watchdog was not penalising the licensee of 2GB, but was working with it to improve procedures.

Julia Gillard

There were strong calls for 2GB to sack Jones in October 2012 following remarks he made at a Sydney University Liberal Club function a week earlier. The remarks concerned the death of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's father, John. Jones said that Mr Gillard had "died of shame to think that his daughter told lies every time she stood for parliament". Jones' speech was secretly recorded by a News Limited journalist. After the remarks were condemned across social media and the Australian media, Jones held a press conference and apologised. Many labelled his apology as insincere and fake, with Jones using the press conference to criticise Gillard's performance as Prime Minister. Jones also attempted to contact the Prime Minister to offer a personal apology, but was told she would not be returning his call. Several sponsors pulled advertising from Jones' program. One academic linked the public reaction to the "bigger political and media context", citing the Leveson Inquiry in Britain, saying that it shows the "dark side of media power, including bullying by media owners and powerful media individuals who lobby politicians, demand favours, use their outlets as a bully pulpit and to seek revenge when they don't get their way."

References

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  11. NSW By-Election Earlwood Results
  12. NSW Election Results Earlwood 1978
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  21. It's an Honour – Australian Sports Medal
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  52. Jones in Kovco Strife
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  56. van Onselen, Peter (16 October 2010). "Inaccurate vilification beyond Jones's remit". The Australian. News Limited. Archived from the original on 23 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  57. Kermond, Clare (23 November 2011). "Alan Jones Breached Radio Standards". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
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Sporting positions
Preceded byBob Dwyer
1982–1984
Coach
Australian Wallabies

1984–1987
Succeeded byBob Dwyer
1988–1996
Preceded byWarren Ryan
1988–1990
Coach
Balmain Tigers

1991–1993
Succeeded byWayne Pearce
1994–1999
Preceded by?
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Coach
Manly Marlins

1983
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Australia squad1987 Rugby World Cup (fourth place)
Forwards
Backs
Coach: Jones

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