Alan Jones has ‘no immediate plans’ to return to Australia to resume on-air role

Last month, the Herald revealed allegations that Jones used his position of power as Sydney’s most influential and feared broadcaster to prey on a number of young men, indecently assaulting them, groping or inappropriately touching them without their consent.

A former 2GB employee, given the pseudonym Brad Webster, has expressed his hurt that senior staff who witnessed the broadcaster’s alleged inappropriate behaviour towards him have declined to speak up.

Jake Thrupp (left) with Alan Jones and guests at the broadcaster’s farewell boat party after his final 2GB show in 2020.Credit: Rhett Wyman

“One of them was Jason Morrison,” Webster said.

Webster was 20 when he started at 2GB in the mid-2000s. One of his jobs was to drive the then 65-year-old Jones home from work.

He alleged that during the 10-minute drive, Jones would “go the grope, he’d rub my penis”.

Webster said that although he was the most junior and least important employee, he was seated next to Jones, the station’s star, at a team lunch at a harbourside restaurant.

“And he did the same thing at the dinner table, we’d be sitting there and he would be doing that,” Webster said, demonstrating the rubbing of his groin.

Webster said that others at the table, including Morrison, would see what Jones was doing. “And then afterwards – and this stuff made me angry – they would take the piss out of what just happened. Like, ‘Oh, did you enjoy that?’”

Morrison, who started at 2GB in 1989, aged 17, was the radio’s drive show host between 2008 and 2010. He also filled in for Jones, who dominated breakfast radio.

In December, Morrison told the Herald he had never witnessed Jones groping anyone under the table or any other inappropriate behaviour.

“Alan was the victim of a lot of innuendo over a lot of years … and I found it [to] be quite unfair,” said Morrison, who was adamant that “never, ever, ever did I see any evidence of [inappropriate behaviour]”.

Jason Morrison has filled in for Alan Jones on ADH TV.Credit: Facebook

Last week, the Herald obtained permission to reveal Webster’s identity to Morrison. Asked if he would classify Webster as being a liar, Morrison replied: “Oh God, no!” He then said: “I think we have spoken enough” and ended the call.

Jones, through his lawyers, has denied all allegations and has threatened legal action.

Asked about his prospective job at ADH TV last week, Morrison told radio host Chris Smith that he was “having a chat to these guys” but that he was still under contract to Seven.

Morrison went on to say he would love to do something new in what he described as the “rapidly growing fringe” space, and then laughingly invited Smith “to come and work for me if I go there”. Smith is working at digital radio TNT, having previously been sacked from Sky News and before that from 2GB over allegedly inappropriate behaviour towards young women at staff functions.

Chris Smith on Sky News.Credit:

In December 2022, while still at Seven, Morrison found himself at the centre of a controversy when it was revealed that Morrison had been one of the three judges who had awarded his wife, Heidi Tiltins, one of radio’s most prestigious awards for her role as a news presenter.

On learning that Tiltins had outscored dozens of other nominees, the other two judges were outraged. After comparing notes, they worked out that Morrison had given his wife a “perfect 10” for her to win.

“I find it highly offensive that there would be any suggestion something inappropriate has happened here,” Morrison told the Herald at the time, adding: “I have spent years recognising good talent, and there is no question that Heidi is excellent talent”.

While Jones is the major talent at ADH TV, other conservative hosts include Lyle Shelton, the former head of the Australian Christian Lobby, Nick Cater, a News Corp columnist and senior fellow of the Menzies Research Centre, and self-described “provocateur” Daisy Cousens.

Jack Bulfin, chief executive of ADH TV, which stars Alan Jones. Credit: Peter Rae

Jones, whose ADH broadcasts had been reduced to only two a week, finished on air at the end of November. His work email notes that “I am off air until late January. Please, no correspondence. It won’t be answered.”

In May 2020, Jones announced his retirement from Radio 2GB on doctor’s advice. Behind the scenes, Jones was being forced out on commercial grounds as advertisers had boycotted his program over controversial remarks suggesting that then-New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern should have a sock shoved down her throat.

In early November 2021, Jones’ contract was not renewed by Sky News, where Jones had been hosting a nightly television program.

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Numerous industry sources expressed surprise that Jones had delegated the contract renewal negotiations with Sky to Thrupp.

Later that same month, corporate records show Australian Digital Holdings, a $1 company, was established by Jack Bulfin, who had just turned 22. Bulfin is the sole director and shareholder.

ADH was the brainchild of Bulfin and Thrupp. In December 2021, at a press conference announcing ADH TV’s launch, businessman and climate change sceptic Maurice Newman said he was “absolutely delighted and excited to announce that Alan Jones has signed with Australian Digital Holdings … of which I am the chair, to launch his digital television show, ‘Alan Jones: Direct to the People’.”

Newman expressed his hope that Jones’ audience would be in the millions.

Jones told the assembled media that “freedom of speech” was his driving motivation to try a new platform. Dismissing traditional media as being too constrictive about what he could say, Jones offered: “I will be saying what Alan Jones thinks. This is the world of tomorrow.”

Billionaire James Packer has confirmed he is a backer of ADH TV.Credit: Getty Images

Jason Morrison, who attended the press conference, was singled out by Jones as a “big candidate” for an on-air role.

Jones declined to identify who was funding the network, except to say that the backers broadly shared his view of the world. While Jones is not a backer of the venture, those who have invested are understood to include businessman Marcus Blackmore and former fund manager Simon Fenwick, one of the major donors to the No campaign for an Indigenous Voice to parliament.

Billionaire James Packer, a long-time supporter of Jones, has confirmed he is a backer, while other ADH board members include Nick Cater, barrister Margaret Cunneen, SC, Gillis Delaney law partner Anthony Jefferies and Florida-based fund manager Rowan Parchi.

It is understood that ADH’s revenue comes from a share of advertising profits from social media platforms such as YouTube. It also has privately sourced advertising.

However, according to Mediaweek, ADH has not reached the hoped-for huge audience. The trade publication’s editor-in-chief, James Manning, said the traffic of unique visitors to ADH TV’s website, where its content can be found, totalled 23,000 in November. In December, while Jones was on leave, that figure rose to 39,000.

Bulfin, who is listed as ADH TV’s chief executive, did not reply to the Herald’s calls asking if and when Jones would be back on air.

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