SYDNEY, Australia — Alan Jones, an 83-year-old former radio host and rugby coach, has been charged with 24 counts of sexual offences against eight men, including a 17-year-old boy, spanning nearly two decades.
Jones, a prominent figure in Australian media and sport, was arrested Monday, November morning at his Sydney apartment after a lengthy investigation by New South Wales Police’s Strike Force Bonnefin.
The charges include 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault, nine counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touching another person without consent, and two counts of common assault.
Allegations and Investigation
The alleged assaults occurred between 2001 and 2019, with Jones reportedly meeting some victims for the first time before the alleged offenses took place, according to police and media reports.
NSW Police announced in a news release that they launched Strike Force Bonnefin in March 2024 to investigate the allegations.
“The alleged victims were known to the offender either personally or professionally,” a police spokesperson said.
Jones was taken to Day Street Police Station, where he was charged before being granted conditional bail. Conditions of his release include restrictions on travel and contact with the alleged victims.
Jones Denies Allegations
Jones has denied the accusations. His lawyer, Chris Murphy, said, “Nothing has been tested. Nothing has been proven. Alan Jones will assert his innocence appropriately in the courtroom.”
The case is set to proceed in Downing Centre Local Court on December 18.
High-Profile Career
Jones is a household name in Australia, having had a decades-long career at 2GB radio and as a commentator on television.
He also coached the Australian Wallabies and Barbarians rugby teams and worked as a speechwriter and advisor for the Liberal Party.
Jones retired from broadcasting in 2020, citing health concerns.
Allegations Stretch Back Decades
The allegations against Jones first came to light in an investigative report by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in December 2023.
Multiple men came forward with accusations, including a former employee at 2GB who claimed Jones indecently assaulted him repeatedly, a waiter who alleged Jones groped him in 2008, and members of the arts community who shared similar experiences.
One of the most notable allegations came from late tech entrepreneur Alex Hartman, who accused Jones of indecently assaulting him as a teenager before his death in 2019.
The earliest claims date back to 1965, when Jones was a teacher at Brisbane Grammar School. He is alleged to have groped a student at the time, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Legal and Social Implications
The charges against Jones mark a dramatic fall for a figure who was long revered in Australian broadcasting and rugby.
His arrest has sparked renewed conversations in Australia about accountability and power dynamics in influential institutions.
Jones has yet to issue a personal statement, and his legal team has emphasised that the proceedings are in their early stages. The case will continue to unfold in court next month.
