‘Number 1, struggle street’ and a $1,200 stipend: inside the first week of Alan Jones’s trial
Guardian AU
•Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:00:20 GMT
📰 What Happened
The first week of former broadcaster Alan Jones's Sydney trial has heard him deny 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching relating to six men, spanning almost two decades. Jones's barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC claimed in openings that Jones was targeted by media rivals 'looking for a story', singling out Sydney Morning Herald journalists and shock jock Ray Hadley. The judge-only trial is being held at Downing Centre local court, and Jones has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
🔍 The Backstory
Alan Jones is one of Australia's most famous and controversial radio broadcasters, long a dominant force in Sydney talkback radio. The charges, which he strongly denies, follow years of allegations against powerful media and entertainment figures in the wake of the wider reckoning over sexual misconduct. His barrister is mounting a combative defence arguing the allegations are a 'concoction' driven by media rivalry and personal vendettas.
🎯 Why It Matters
The trial is a landmark legal case bringing historic sexual assault allegations against one of Australia's most prominent media figures, and has drawn intense national attention with major resources devoted to coverage. The outcome has significant implications for how Australia handles allegations of historical misconduct against powerful figures, and for public trust in both the justice system and the media figures involved in the fray.
The first week of former broadcaster Alan Jones's Sydney trial has heard him deny 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching relating to six men, spanning almost two decades. Jones's barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC claimed in openings that Jones was targeted by media rivals 'looking for a story', singling out Sydney Morning Herald journalists and shock jock Ray Hadley. The judge-only trial is being held at Downing Centre local court, and Jones has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Alan Jones is one of Australia's most famous and controversial radio broadcasters, long a dominant force in Sydney talkback radio. The charges, which he strongly denies, follow years of allegations against powerful media and entertainment figures in the wake of the wider reckoning over sexual misconduct. His barrister is mounting a combative defence arguing the allegations are a 'concoction' driven by media rivalry and personal vendettas.
The trial is a landmark legal case bringing historic sexual assault allegations against one of Australia's most prominent media figures, and has drawn intense national attention with major resources devoted to coverage. The outcome has significant implications for how Australia handles allegations of historical misconduct against powerful figures, and for public trust in both the justice system and the media figures involved in the fray.