Sydney Morning Herald chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont has been called by the Crown to give evidence in the indecent assault and sexual touching trial of former 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney. McClymont’s reporting of allegations against Jones prompted a police investigation. Jones was arrested in November 2024. Jones, 85, faces 19 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent against five male complainants, with alleged offences occurring between 2003 and 2020. He has pleaded not guilty and denies the alleged physical acts occurred.
McClymont is the fourth high-profile media figure to give evidence, following Jones’ former 2GB colleagues Ray Hadley and Jason Morrison, and Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons. The court heard that Hadley, Morrison and FitzSimons were questioned about their interactions with one complainant, identified as “C”. McClymont is expected to testify about her interactions with three complainants during her investigation.
All five complainants have given evidence, though a charge relating to a sixth complainant was withdrawn during the trial and several other charges were dropped before it began.
The complainants, identified by pseudonyms, have given accounts of non-consensual kissing and touching. “J”, a former teen athlete, alleges Jones kissed and touched him over several years. “C”, a former staffer to Jones, alleges the broadcaster kissed and touched him without consent during a five-month period, including in the lift of Jones’ harbourside apartment and under a table at a Sydney lunch. “M”, a former athlete, alleges Jones kissed him non-consensually on two occasions when he was in his 30s, and says Jones sent him weekly flowers for years and arranged a helicopter to fly him to his rural property. “H”, an executive, alleges Jones placed his hand on the top of his back and moved it down to his bottom at an event. He told the court he authorised McClymont to pass his details to police but not to use his information in a story. “A”, now a doctor, alleges Jones kissed him without consent when he was 17. The court heard that “A” and his mother contacted McClymont after reading a story she wrote about Jones in 2023.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The trial of a former leading radio broadcaster on multiple sex offence charges is one of the highest-profile cases in Australia in recent years.
- McClymont’s testimony is critical as she is the journalist who uncovered the allegations and spoke to the complainants; her evidence will be central to the Crown’s case.
- The trial will test the justice system’s handling of historical sexual offence allegations, especially involving a powerful public figure.
Background
Alan Jones was a prominent conservative radio host on Sydney’s 2GB for many years. In late 2023, The Sydney Morning Herald began publishing investigative reports detailing allegations from multiple men. In response, NSW Police established Strike Force Bonnefin, leading to Jones’ arrest in November 2024. The trial is being held at the Downing Centre District Court before a jury.
Key Perspectives
Alan Jones: denies all charges, pleading not guilty and maintaining that the alleged physical acts did not occur.
Complainants J, C, M, H, A: each provided evidence describing incidents of non-consensual kissing or touching by Jones between 2003 and 2020.
What to Watch
- The content and credibility of McClymont’s testimony as she faces cross-examination.
- Further witness testimony or evidence called by the defence.
- The jury’s verdict after the trial concludes, though no timeline has been set.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedKate McClymont gives evidence in Alan Jones’s trial at the Downing Centre District Court.The Age - Latest News: “Today, The Sydney Morning Herald ’s chief investigative reporter, Kate McClymont, has been called to give evidence by the Crown.”
- SupportedMcClymont’s reporting of allegations against Jones prompted a police investigation.The Age - Latest News: “Kate McClymont’s reporting of allegations against Jones prompted the police investigation.”
- SupportedJones was arrested in November 2024.The Age - Latest News: “Jones was arrested in November 2024.”
- SupportedJones is 85.The Age - Latest News: “Jones, 85, is standing trial on 19 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent against five male complainants between 2003 and 2020.”
- SupportedJones faces 19 counts of indecent assault.The Age - Latest News: “Jones, 85, is standing trial on 19 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent against five male complainants between 2003 and 2020.”
- SupportedJones faces two counts of sexual touching without consent.The Age - Latest News: “Jones, 85, is standing trial on 19 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent against five male complainants between 2003 and 2020.”
- SupportedThe charges are against five male complainants.The Age - Latest News: “Jones, 85, is standing trial on 19 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent against five male complainants between 2003 and 2020.”
- SupportedThe alleged offences occurred between 2003 and 2020.The Age - Latest News: “Jones, 85, is standing trial on 19 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching without consent against five male complainants between 2003 and 2020.”
- SupportedJones has pleaded not guilty and denies the alleged physical acts occurred.The Age - Latest News: “He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denies the alleged physical acts occurred.”
- SupportedMcClymont is the fourth high-profile media figure to give evidence, after Ray Hadley, Jason Morrison and Peter FitzSimons.The Age - Latest News: “McClymont is the fourth high-profile media figure to give evidence in the trial, following Jones’ former 2GB colleagues Ray Hadley and Jason Morrison, and Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons.”
- SupportedMcClymont is expected to testify about her interactions with three complainants.The Age - Latest News: “Kate McClymont, The Sydney Morning Herald’ s chief investigative reporter, is expected to give evidence about her interactions with three of the complainants as she investigated allegations about Jones.”
- Partly supportedJ alleges Jones kissed and touched him over several years.The Age - Latest News: “Complainant “J”, a former teen athlete, alleges Jones kissed and touched him non-consensually over a number of years.”