A politician who worked alongside an alleged victim has told Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court that the man appeared uncharacteristically withdrawn when he met with broadcaster Alan Jones at the presenter's Circular Quay apartment. The former MP, whose identity is protected to shield the alleged victim known as complainant C, said the individual was ordinarily outgoing and engaged, but his manner shifted noticeably once he took a seat at a table with his former employer.
The court heard that C, who served as Jones's driver during his youth, displayed signs of anxiety and discomfort when the three men gathered at a rectangular table in Jones's waterfront residence. C had subsequently moved on to work for a politician and accompanied his employer to the meeting with Jones regarding a board position. The witness testified that C remained silent throughout the encounter and avoided making eye contact—behaviour starkly at odds with his typical pattern of active participation in conversation.
During his own testimony last month, C stated that the meeting at the apartment had left him feeling anxious and uneasy. The defence challenged this account by pointing to a text message C had sent to Jones at the time, in which he expressed how much he had valued the opportunity to see him.
The trial is being heard by Judge Glenn Walsh alone in a judge-only proceeding. According to , the case involves six men and more than 70 witnesses are expected to give evidence. Jones has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of assault with an act of indecency and two counts of sexual touching.
What witnesses said about C's disclosures
On Thursday, the court heard testimony from six people who stated that C had confided in them over the years about being touched inappropriately by Jones when he was a young driver. A former government colleague recounted a conversation with C while they were driving along the Hume Highway. The colleague said C had been reminiscing about his time driving Jones around when he made an allegation about the broadcaster's conduct.
We were talking about 2GB and he was reminiscing about driving Mr Jones around and he communicated that [Jones] had reached into his crotch and squeezed it, the witness told the court. When asked how he had responded, the witness apologised for the language and said he had replied with an expletive of shock.
And C said 'that's just Alan, that's his behaviour', the colleague continued, adding that C had characterised Jones as
a very powerful man within 2GB.
C's father-in-law did not testify in person, but his police statement was read aloud in court. He told officers that C had occasionally shared anecdotes about his employment with Jones, including one incident in which Jones had invited him to his Circular Quay apartment. According to the statement, when Jones sat down in his chair, he was wearing only a dressing gown with nothing underneath, and C had observed that
his undercarriage was hanging out.
The father-in-law also disclosed to police that in 2023, C had revealed to him that Jones had
pushed him up against the wall and kissed meand that C said
he had not previously told me about the hurt it caused.
A school friend of C's testified that C had alleged Jones would make inappropriate comments about genitals in text messages sent to him. Another colleague described an incident at his home while they were watching horse racing. C had commented on a presenter on a racing channel
who was dressed very flamboyantlyand asked the colleague whether he wanted to know if the presenter was gay. When the colleague said yes, C replied:
He said he was, he is as gay as Alan grabbing me on the cock day.
A second school friend who later became colleagues with C in adulthood said C would make references to incidents from his time working for Jones, including being
grabbed on the cockand being
kissed. Another colleague who worked with C for a politician reported that C had said:
when he drove Mr Jones he would put his hand on his leg and go the grope.
Yet another former school mate who subsequently became a work colleague recalled a lunch with friends at which C had adopted a joking tone and said:
Did anything happen with you when you were working with Alan? He tried to kiss me in the lift once. And I said what do you mean?The colleague said they never discussed the matter again.
Background to the trial
The prosecution opened its case on 3 August at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court. The allegations against Jones span from 2003 to 2020, and the matter is being heard by Judge Glenn Walsh without a jury. The case reached trial only after earlier charge changes, with the present allegations representing the final set to proceed to hearing.
What happens next
The trial continues through September. According to ABC, evidence from radio host Ray Hadley was interrupted and proceedings were adjourned, with the hearing set to resume at 10am on Wednesday. Coverage from early September indicates the hearing is extending into its fifth week and beyond, though no fixed end date has been announced.
