Former 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley has told a Sydney court he believed Alan Jones was targeting him after learning he had secretly signed a contract to take over Jones’ breakfast radio programme.
Hadley completed his evidence on Thursday in Jones’ trial at the Downing Centre Local Court, describing his long relationship with the veteran broadcaster as “very complicated” and “tumultuous”.
“We went from being very close to being very distant,” Hadley said. He told the court he credited Jones with much of his professional success and remained “appreciative for what he did for me as a broadcaster”, despite their falling-outs and “stand-up brawls”.
Hadley said he believed Jones regarded him as disloyal after discovering that he had signed the contract in December 2018 to take over the breakfast slot from July 2019. The arrangement ultimately did not proceed, although Hadley said he insisted 2GB honour a commitment to double his salary to $4 million.
“I’d been targeted by Mr Jones when he found out that I’d signed a contract to take his position, even though I never took his position,” Hadley told the court.
He had previously said a 2GB staff member told him Jones had “marshalled the troops” and ordered them to “dig up some dirt on Hadley”.
Messages about Alan Jones examined in court
Hadley was questioned about his dealings with complainant C, one of six men who allege Jones subjected them to unwanted kissing or touching. Jones, 85, denies all the alleged physical acts and has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent.
Hadley said C had confided in him in October 2019 that Jones had “put his hand on my c— and kissed me” on several occasions years earlier.
During re-examination, prosecutor Georgina Wright, SC, asked Hadley why he had told C in a text message that Jones “needs to be destroyed”.
“I said I’d stick by him, and I’d support him in every way, no matter what course of action he decided to take, and that’s why I’m here today,” Hadley said.
The court also heard Hadley had been unable to produce other messages between himself and C after being subpoenaed. He said his lawyer had informed the court that the phone containing the messages had been returned to 2GB when he retired from broadcasting in 2024.
Hadley was shown part of a message in which he appeared to use a homophobic slur about Jones. He said he could not recall the context and that the fragment did not “make any sense”, adding that it was not a word he ordinarily used.
The court previously heard Hadley sent C a series of expletive-laden messages in December 2023, shortly before the publication of an investigation by Sydney Morning Herald chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont detailing allegations against Jones.
In one message, Hadley wrote: “That c— will be in the foetal position when he reads the story in the morning. It’s been 50 years in the making.”
He later wrote that Jones was “not just taking on victims, he’s taking on me and Kate” and that he would not rest until they buried him, “figuratively speaking or literally”. Asked who he meant by “we”, Hadley said he believed he was referring to himself and McClymont.
Hadley rejected a suggestion from Jones’ barrister, Gabrielle Bashir, SC, that he had lied about meeting C in 2019.
A witness who was allegedly present at a lunch where C claims Jones touched him inappropriately began giving evidence later on Thursday, but proceedings were interrupted after a legal issue arose.
The judge-only trial, which began in August, is continuing.
