The ability to decide elections is a bit much.I can understand some conservatives being uncomfortable linking allegations of sexual assault with his politics but is influential role in the Australian political landscape is undeniable.
'Alan Jones is considered the ‘king’ of breakfast radio in Australia. There is a widespread belief amongst Australia’s political elites that Jones can decide elections.'
This from Wikipedia:
'Jones has been a 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.'
His views on race based politics and in inciting racial hatred across the community in the lead up to the Cronulla riots is well documented:
Alan Jones: I'm the person that's led this charge
www.theage.com.au
I always have a laugh at the obsession of those who want to discuss the location of topics instead of the content of the topic - especially if it's political in nature. It's as if they want to hide the subject from view because of the uncomfortable truths it brings bubbling back to the surface.
John Howard was a Prime Minister from Sydney.
I think that set him on the path of attacking everyone and everything - as long as he got paid.
When I first moved to sin city, I was unaware of who he was until then other than he coached the Wallaby’s at sone point…
Howard's 'Battlers' narrative promoted by Jones is what shifted a string of seats in western Sydney from red to blue in the 1996 election and gave birth to the myth of him and his coalition government representing the ordinary Australian.
kangaroocourtofaustralia.com
Howard's support is actually a bit restrained, doesn't say it can't be true. Just he knows nothing.
That story would have gone through the lawyers and every single T was crossed and every I was dotted.The Sydney Morning Herald has outlined some of the background to the Alan Jones sexual assault story which makes it clear that they are more than prepared to defend any defamation action that Jones chooses to mount
This 4000-word investigation has taken years to come to light – it includes claims that go back several years. McClymont spent months and months talking to the alleged victims and key figures involved in this story, and then, working with investigations editor Michael Evans, checking what they said, cross-referencing with other people’s claims and collecting background documentation and evidence.
We sat down on Monday morning in a meeting of the most senior editorial staff and our legal team to map out the final steps before we could press publish.
Our final action in such an investigation is to go to the person involved and give them ample time and opportunity to comment. And so we sent a series of questions to Jones and his legal representatives and waited for a response on Wednesday afternoon
When it came, at 1.46pm on Wednesday, Jones denied all the claims. His lawyer, Mark O’Brien, also attempted to discredit McClymont personally and advised us if we published they would commence defamation action against us
Based on this response we included his denials, both in headlines and extensively in the text. We had one final meeting of senior editorial and legal staff and agreed it was time to go
These stories start thanks to the bravery of the alleged victims involved, who were willing to freely tell their stories, relive their pain and subject themselves to the intense emotion and potential trauma of going public. We couldn’t do what we do without them, and we salute them and hope our investigation brings them some comfort and relief
If required there can be no doubt that SMH is ready to go to trial to defend the accuracy and integrity of their report and the journalist who conducted the investigation.
Edit: Also in todays SMH:
Alan Jones steps aside from school talent program after indecent assault claims
The broadcaster, who denies any wrongdoing, has stepped down from the Board of the Talent Development Project Foundation.www.smh.com.au
