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Veteran Australian broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones appeared in court on Monday as his trial opened over multiple allegations of sexual assault involving six men.
Jones, 85, appeared before a Sydney court to answer 22 charges, including 20 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexually touching without consent, according to court records.
Prosecutors allege the offences occurred between 2003 and 2020 and involved six young men over a period of nearly two decades.
The former radio host was arrested at his luxury Sydney apartment in 2024 following an investigation into the allegations.
Jones has denied all the charges, maintaining that he is innocent.
“These allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth,” he previously said, adding that he was “certainly not guilty.”
The trial is expected to examine evidence relating to the alleged incidents, with the court set to hear testimony from witnesses during the proceedings.
Jones is one of Australia’s best-known media personalities, having built significant influence through his long-running conservative talkback radio programme, which attracted millions of listeners and made him a powerful voice in the country’s political landscape.
Before his broadcasting career, he served as a speechwriter for an Australian prime minister and taught at one of the country’s most prestigious schools.
Jones also enjoyed a successful sporting career as coach of the Australian men’s rugby union team, the Wallabies, from 1984 to 1988.
During his tenure, he guided Australia to a historic Grand Slam tour victory over England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, a feat that cemented his place in Australian rugby history.
His achievements as a coach and sports administrator earned him induction into Australia’s Sport Hall of Fame in 1989.
Beyond sport, Jones became one of Australia‘s most influential broadcasters, with politicians from across the political spectrum frequently seeking his support or attempting to avoid criticism on his widely followed radio programme.
The trial is expected to continue in the coming days.
