Back in 2012, Alan Jones declared women were “destroying the joint” live on air, resulting in a movement that would see those with far less power uniting to take a stand against a man whom prime ministers were said to fear.
It was a time before Twitter became X, when optimism about the good social media could achieve was still present.
And it was a time when more women were coming into positions of power — a trend that would slow down, but one that Jones had a lot to say about. Whether it was women who Jones deemed to be “destroying the joint”, or should have a “sock shoved down their throat” or had a father who had “died of shame”.
And women had a lot to say in response to Alan Jones. Destroy the Joint became the name of a movement united in taking a stand against him. It was a Twitter hashtag and then a Facebook Group that showed how social media could put in a serious fight against misogyny and offensive remarks.
Following his comments and others about women, an online petition attracted hundreds of thousands of supporters in the immediate days and weeks, putting pressure on 2GB’s advertisers to pull their money from Jones’ breakfast show. Many such advertisers did, and 2GB owner Macquarie Radio suffered a share price fall.
Jones would persevere through it all, at least to a point.
Jones retired from 2GB breakfast radio in May 2020, before moving over to Sky News Australia, which he was eventually dumped from following continued dwindling ratings. His Daily Telegraph column was discontinued, with the paper noting his writing no longer resonated with readers. His dumping from Sky saw former prime minister Kevin Rudd paying tribute to the social media group Mad Fucking Witches for their efforts in leading a boycott of advertisers from Jones’ radio show (with the group continuing to lead such boycotts, currently with a focus on Kyle Sandilands).
But late in 2023, things really shifted for Jones, following a major investigation by Nine papers alleging Jones had used positions of power to prey on multiple young men. Jones has always and continues to deny all allegations against him.
And things have shifted significantly again this week.
The broadcaster was arrested around 7:45am on Monday morning, following a nine-month investigation by detectives. Later on Monday, he was charged with 24 offences against eight victims over almost 20 years. Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald told reporters, “The youngest of those victims was 17 years old at the time when we allege the offence took place.”
Eight men have accused Jones of abusing them.
It’s hard to imagine the courage it must have taken for them to come forward – some initially to reporters as part of the Nine investigation.
Imagine the courage of one of the accusers who first took his allegations to Ray Hadley for support (Hadley offered him “unqualified support” and asked what he wanted to do next, sharing on air how he sat silently and listened for “forty minutes” to the man).
“The behaviour he was alleging was unwanted sexual advances from a person in a position of power. That being his boss, Alan Jones,” Hadley said at the time.
This accusor went on to tell Kate McClymont during her investigation that, “if people don’t know about this, Alan will get the state funeral… He will get the prime minister going to his funeral.”
Today, Chris Masters, the author of the 2006 biography Jonestown: The Power and the Myth of Alan Jones, said the question of what Jones’ legacy will be is a very difficult one to answer.
Will it be a legacy of broadcasting fame? An eclectic career moving from teaching to coaching to radio?
Will it be a legacy of power and control over elected officials, pushing them to take on his agenda?
Will it be a legacy of hiding behind a cloak to “preserve his dishonest power base”?
Or will it be something closer to reflecting the courage and persistence of those with far less power than someone like Jones?
As things currently stand, it wasn’t prime ministers that brought Jones to where he is now. It was people – often collectively – with far less power and far more to lose.
Jones had been due to leave for a trip to the United States within days before his arrest.
But now, the man who once wielded incredible power against state and federal political politicians, who “primer ministers feared”, has no choice but to stay where he is.
While granted bail, Jones faces travel restrictions and will appear before court on December 18.