Former radio host Ray Hadley has told the trial of his 2GB rival Alan Jones that the broadcaster targeted him for disloyalty after he signed a secret contract to take over the breakfast show.
Mr Hadley has wrapped up his evidence in Mr Jones’s criminal trial, where he has pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of indecent assault and sexual touching of six men.
The former 2GB morning show host has been accused by Mr Jones’s defence team of trying to “destroy” their client by colluding with one of the alleged victims, Complainant C, to bring down Mr Jones with a criminal complaint.
Mr Hadley agreed in the NSW Local Court on Thursday that he had “animosity” for Mr Jones in late 2019.
But he said Mr Jones had been targeting him before then.
“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,” he said.
“He was targeting me because he thought I was disloyal.”
Mr Jones denies all allegations against him. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
On Wednesday the court heard Mr Hadley signed a $4 million contract in late 2018 to take on the breakfast role in mid-2019, because one of the station’s shareholders was concerned Mr Jones was costing him too much money in defamation cases.
Mr Hadley said after that, Mr Jones tried to “dig up dirt” on him and tried to frame him for a workplace assault that never happened.
“Anything they could to white ant me, white ant my program, just generally make life more difficult for me,” he said on Thursday.
He was also asked to explain why he said “this bloke needs to be destroyed” in reference to Mr Jones, in a text message to Complainant C.
“It was in reference to the proceedings we’re here about at the moment,” Mr Hadley said.
“I said I’d stick by him [Complainant C] 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.”
Defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC put to Mr Hadley that he had not told the truth about a conversation with Complainant C in 2019, where he alleged the man confided in him that Mr Jones had assaulted him more than 10 years earlier.
Mr Hadley said he rejected that entirely.
‘Very complicated’ working relationship
In re-examination by the crown, Mr Hadley was also taken to a more cordial text message exchange with Mr Jones, where he thanked his colleague for some well wishes.
“Our relationship was very complicated,” Mr Hadley told the court.
“We went from being very close to very distant.
“Much of my success as a broadcaster was due to him.
“He was gracious, I returned it. I was appreciative of what he did for me as a broadcaster.
“We had stand up brawls … he said he’d never work with me again.
“He wanted me out of the building.
“We were both under tremendous pressure constantly to deliver and as a result it was a tumultuous relationships, sometimes warm and friendly and sometimes hostile.”
Mr Hadley describes his relationship with Mr Jones as “tumultuous”. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
Mr Hadley was dismissed after finishing his evidence, and made brief comments to reporters outside court, saying he “can’t say anything until the matter has been totally and utterly dealt with.”
Allegations concerning Mr Jones were first published by Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) investigative journalist Kate McClymont in December 2023.
The court on Wednesday heard Mr Hadley described the article as being “50 years in the making” in a text message to Complainant C.
“That c*** will be in the foetal position when he reads the story in the morning,” he said in the message.
Mr Hadley denied suggestions he had a vested interest in the outcome of Mr Jones’s case.
He also rejected the suggestion that he pushed Complainant C to make his allegations in a bid to have Mr Jones dropped from the breakfast program.
Mr Jones’s trial is now in its fourth week. The trial continues.
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Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 11:41amThu 3 Sep 2026 at 11:41am
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This is where we will end our live coverage of Alan Jones’s indecent assault and sexual touching trial.
Ray Hadley has been excused from the witness box after appearing briefly for a third day of questioning.
The trial continues
Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 11:24amThu 3 Sep 2026 at 11:24am
Hadley fronts media outside court
Outside court, Mr Hadley spoke briefly to reporters.
“I’ve been released from evidence, I’m no longer under oath, but the case continues so there’s nothing I can say,” he said.
“I appreciate you’re all here to do a job.
“I just can’t say anything until the matter has been totally and utterly dealt with.”
Thu 3 Sep 2026 at 11:01amThu 3 Sep 2026 at 11:01am
Hadley excused from court
The court previously heard Mr Hadley made an on-air statement addressing allegations against Mr Jones following the publication of an article in the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) in December 2023.
Mr Hadley this morning said he referred to Complainant C by a pseudonym in the statement.
“I maintained through the whole process I wouldn’t identify him,” he said.
The re-examination of Mr Hadley has now finished and he has been excused.
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