Alan Jones threatens legal action after indecent assault allegations

“We have retained Senior Counsel and have instructions to immediately serve a Concerns Notice under Section 12A of the Defamation Act as the first step in the commencement of defamation proceedings.

“There will be no further comment by or on behalf of Mr Jones.” A concerns notice is the first step towards filing a defamation lawsuit, and must be sent within the first year after publication.

Defamation lawyer Mark O’Brien. Louise Kennerley

The comments from Jones’ law firm come as his long-term former 2GB colleague, Ray Hadley, revealed he had severed contact with the now 82-year-old after a former employee told him allegations of “unwanted sexual advances”.

“This morning I spoke to one of the alleged victims of Alan Jones, identified as Bradley Webster. Bradley Webster has asked me to document a story he told me some time ago. After earlier asking me not to reveal a private conversation we had, he’s now given me permission for me to share details of our discussion,” Hadley said.

Hadley said he sat for 40 minutes as Mr Webster went through the same allegations published on Thursday in Nine newspapers. “I sat silently as he went through the allegations documented in today’s story, interrupted only by his tears as he tried to compose himself. It was a very emotional conversation for both of us,” he said.

“The behaviour he was alleging was unwanted sexual advances from a person in the position of power. That being his boss, Alan Jones.”

Hadley said he had an unusual relationship with Jones over 30 years.

“We’ve had many battles and some good times. But from the day I spoke to Bradley, our relationship was basically severed, given it had already been strained over other matters not related to the allegations made by Bradley,” he said.

2GB morning host Ray Hadley cut off contact with Alan Jones.  

2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham, who took over from Jones in 2020, acknowledged the allegations on his program, that they were denied, and that any accused is “innocent until proven otherwise”.

2GB, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age are owned by Nine Entertainment, which also publishes The Australian Financial Review.

Jones has held positions of power for decades, including as a former speechwriter for prime minister Malcolm Fraser. Until recently, he sat on the board of Venues NSW – formerly the SCG Trust – but his tenure expired days ago, on November 30.

When asked about the allegations and Jones’ position, a spokesman for NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said Jones didn’t reapply in time and therefore wouldn’t be considered for the role.

He also chairs the Talent Development Project, a partly NSW government-funded arts program. Anne Fitzgerald, TDP Foundation chief executive, said there would be a formal response to the allegations later on Thursday.

Jones also launched his own broadcast network, Australian Digital Holdings, after leaving 2GB and Sky News Australia. Sources close to ADH TV, as it is known, said the network would not be commenting on the allegations. It won’t be suspending or removing Jones from any role at the network.

ADH TV chair Maurice Newman was contacted for comment.