The top media commentators in Australia have had enough of Alan Jones’ antics and are calling for him to be sacked.
The calls come after advertisers dropped sponsorships from 2GB in droves as Jones made shocking comments about NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
The 78-year-old said that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison needed to “shove a sock down her throat” after she questioned Australia’s climate change policies.
Media commentators are saying that enough is enough and that Jones needs to be let go.
“Australia’s most offensive journalist has committed more media atrocities than any other working journalist over the past 30 years,” wrote Crikey founder Stephen Mayne.
“He should be sacked not given yet another last chance.”
TV personality Jan Fran agrees, but says that the firing should have come earlier as Jones had been found guilty of inciting racial hatred in the lead up to the Cronulla riots in 2005.
“You’d think that would have been the catalyst to get him off air,” she told news.com.au.
“I’m just very concerned, like the rest of people, asking the question, what will it take? If that isn’t enough, I’m genuinely not sure what is.”
Fran said that Australian listeners have known who Jones is for a while.
“Every time he says and does something despicable, we hop up and down as though it’s the first time it’s ever happened,” she said.
However, Dr Timothy Sharp from the Happiness Institute says that as a psychologist who’s intensely studied human behaviour, Jones is unlikely to change his ways.
“It’s hard to argue he would change his behaviour, which I personally believe is completely inappropriate,” he said to news.com.au.
“I don’t think it would be tolerated in any other context. It baffles me in a way because in any other workplace, in any other context, that wouldn’t be tolerated.”
New audio aired on ABC’s Media Watch last night has revealed even more offensive comments made by the broadcaster.
The statement was made on Jones’ 2GB radio program on August 15, and was a part of his original attack on Ardern.
He can be heard saying: “This lightweight New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden is challenging Scott Morrison over climate change. Now I hope Scott Morrison gets tough here with a few backhanders … hasn’t got a clue this woman.”
The “backhanders” comment has just recently come to light.
