Alan Jones pleads not guilty as charges against broadcaster are reduced

Sydney — Alan Jones, the 84-year-old broadcaster, has pleaded not guilty to dozens of sexual abuse charges after prosecutors withdrew more than a dozen counts, leaving him facing 25 indecent assault charges and two sexual touching charges involving nine alleged victims. The downgrade came as the matter played out in the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney, with a date set for a 2026 local court hearing.

Prosecutors had initially charged Jones with 35 counts relating to alleged offences spanning two decades, with the youngest complainant aged 17 at the time. The charges cover alleged incidents between 2001 and 2019. Earlier this week, prosecutors withdrew more than a dozen charges and amended the remaining counts, eliminating allegations of aggravated conduct and allegations that any victims were under Jones's authority at the time.

Jones's defense team argued that the changes amount to a downgrade and that the case should move forward with the existing evidence. Jones's lawyer, Bryan Wrench, told the court that the withdrawal alters the scope of the case and that the defense had been preparing for trial. He indicated there were unresolved pre-trial issues that had not been resolved as the matter progressed.

Wrench and the prosecution also addressed pre-trial issues including the legality of a search of Jones's home, the legality of telephone intercepts, and disclosure, which remain unresolved. The defense asked for a careful review of these issues and suggested that they could influence the timing and scope of the trial. Crown solicitor Emma Curran estimated that the hearing could take six weeks, while Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund noted that such a lengthy process would place a heavy burden on the court's resources and adjourned the matter for eight weeks to allow the parties to negotiate.

The case underscores the scale and complexity of alleged historical offences connected to high-profile public figures, and it illustrates the challenges faced by the Australian justice system in handling long-running cases involving media personalities. The charges relate to alleged offences against nine individuals, with the earliest incidents dating back to the early 2000s and the most recent in 2019. The court schedules may shift as pre-trial matters are resolved, but the hearing date remains set for 2026, with a specific date to be determined at a November 11 scheduling conference.

Jones rose to prominence in Australian broadcasting after starting his career in the mid-1980s. He built a reputation as a fearless interviewer who dominated Sydney radio, first on 2UE and later 2GB, where he remained a ratings powerhouse until his departure in 2020. Beyond broadcasting, he coached the Australian national men's rugby union team during the 1980s, a period that included some historic achievements. His public profile has kept him in the spotlight beyond the media industry, and the current legal proceedings have drawn widespread attention in Australia and abroad.

As the legal process moves forward, prosecutors and defense lawyers are expected to negotiate remaining pre-trial issues and set a timetable for trial preparation. The case will proceed in the state's local court system, with a multi-month trial possible given the number of charges and their historical nature. The proceedings in Sydney come as Australia continues to grapple with a broader reckoning around sexual abuse by public figures in various sectors.