Alan Jones' legal team has accused New South Wales police of engaging in impropriety during a raid on his home as part of a sexual assault investigation. The former shock jock's lawyers told Sydney's Downing Centre local court on Tuesday that police should reveal which officers accessed or downloaded material from his phone and through intercepted calls, claiming the search warrants could be invalid.
Allegations of 'Willy-Nilly' Searches
Barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC argued that the phone was seized and then searched without proper oversight. 'The phone was seized and the evidence to date suggests it was then searched willy-nilly,' she said. Bashir contended that the search warrant was 'bad' on its face, partly because it referenced allegations of sexual intercourse without consent, which are not among the charges Jones ultimately faced.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Jones, 85, has pleaded not guilty to 25 charges of indecent assault and two charges of sexual touching against nine alleged victims spanning nearly two decades. His home was searched in November 2024 after an eight-month investigation into historical sexual abuse reports. Bashir flagged potential applications to temporarily or permanently halt proceedings or to have certain evidence excluded on the grounds it was obtained unlawfully.
Police Response
Representing the NSW police commissioner, barrister Peter Singleton argued there was no evidence of impropriety or that the warrant was invalid. He opposed the release of documents, stating the defence was merely 'fishing to find out whether or not there is a case.' Judge Glenn Walsh heard the arguments.
Background on Jones
Jones retired from a hugely influential broadcasting career that began in 1985. He worked at Sydney radio station 2UE before joining 2GB, where he remained a ratings powerhouse until 2020. Known for his outspoken views and feared interviewing style, he also coached the Australian national rugby union team from 1984 to 1988. Jones has denied the allegations, calling them 'baseless or distortions of the truth.'
The four-month hearing is scheduled to begin in August. His defence team continues to seek documents from police and complainants, with Bashir noting they are still awaiting 'oodles of material.'
