Former Radio Host Denies Tailoring Evidence in Alan Jones Sexual Assault Trial

A former Australian radio host testifying at the sexual assault trial of veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has denied prosecution accusations that he tailored his evidence to assist his former colleague, a Sydney court heard on Tuesday. Jason Morrison, a former presenter at Sydney radio station 2GB, rejected assertions from the prosecution that he altered his account of an alleged assault at a Sydney restaurant to protect Jones.

Jones was arrested in November 2024 following a police investigation launched after news reports published in 2023 prompted alleged victims to come forward. The former radio commentator has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching involving six complainants. His trial is taking place at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney before Judge Glenn Walsh.

During Tuesday’s court session, prosecutor Georgina Wright introduced text messages exchanged between Morrison and Jones that demonstrated hostility toward journalists investigating the former broadcaster. In a 2020 text message sent after Jones announced his departure from 2GB, Morrison wrote, “Thank Christ you’re getting out,” while disparaging the station’s parent company, Nine Entertainment. Additional text messages entered into evidence showed Morrison referring to The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper and its chief investigative reporter, Kate McClymont, as pigs.

Under cross-examination, Morrison acknowledged holding a long-standing negative view of the newspaper and McClymont, citing disappointment over how his previous comments had been handled in reporting. Wright questioned whether Morrison’s attitude toward the press and his friendship with Jones led him to adjust his account of an alleged assault at a restaurant. When Wright suggested that Morrison had tailored his evidence regarding the meal to assist the defense, Morrison denied the claim, testifying, “Well that’s offensive. I’m here under oath, and I find that offensive.”

The court heard contrasting accounts regarding the restaurant lunch. An alleged victim, designated in court as Complainant C, previously testified that while working as a young staff member for Jones, Jones forced him to sit next to him and kept a hand on his leg or groin over his pants throughout the meal. Morrison, who also attended the lunch, testified that he did not see Jones touching the man inappropriately. He stated that although he had joked with other diners that Jones and the staff member looked like a couple, he observed no sexual or romantic behavior, describing the comments as harmless banter.

Prosecutor Wright accused Morrison of being deliberately evasive about whether attendees later joked about the complainant copping a feel under the table. Morrison denied hearing such statements and rejected the characterization that he was being evasive.

Background

Alan Jones is a prominent former Australian radio broadcaster who hosted influential Sydney morning radio shows for decades. In late 2023, investigative reporting published by Australian newspapers led New South Wales police to establish a dedicated task force, Strike Force Bonnefin, to examine allegations of historical sexual misconduct, which resulted in charges filed against Jones in late 2024.