“As this matter is before the courts, we are unable to comment,” a spokeswoman said.

In July last year, the organization’s board unanimously voted to expel former AFL star Barry Cable after a judge found he had sexually abused a young girl while he was a player.

Loading

Police revealed on Tuesday that Jones, 83, had been charged with two further assault offenses after authorities received new legal advice regarding a top secret investigation by child abuse detectives working for Strike Force Bonnefin.

The strike force was formed following a series of reports published by the Herald And Age which revealed that Jones had used his position of power as a teacher, and then as the country’s leading broadcaster, to allegedly prey on a number of young men.

The additional allegations of indecent assault bring the total number of charges to 26, including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault which carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.

The youngest alleged victim was 17 years old.

The former 2GB host and former Wallabies coach went to ground on Tuesday after returning to his luxury Circular Quay apartment a day earlier following his dramatic arrest and transfer to Day Street police station.

However, several supporters, including billionaire businessman James Packer and former Prime Minister John Howard, described Jones as a “friend” in carefully worded statements.

“Alan Jones is my friend and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Packer told the Herald And Age.

In 2023, the former media mogul is reported to have invested millions in Jones’ Australian Digital Holdings, the online news business he launched after leaving Sky News and 2GB. Three days after Jones announced his retirement from radio in May 2020, Packer called into his 2GB show to wish him well.

Asked about Jones’ arrest, Howard said it was well known that the influential broadcaster “is a good friend of mine.”

“I have no knowledge of the facts which are the subject of police proceedings,” he added. “I have no further comments.”

Other known friends and supporters of Jones, such as former cricketer Brett Lee and Labor powerhouse Graham Richardson, declined to comment.

Loading

Prominent conservative commentator Andrew Bolt said if allegations that Jones indecently assaulted and sexually touched multiple men were proven, it would be “one of the greatest disgraces” in Australian history.

“This could be one of the greatest disgraces we’ve seen in this country, and if it is, we’re going to wonder how people bowed to power and who else knew about it. Jones would have done,” Bolt said during his speech. Bolt Report program on Sky News.

“How well will the legend of Jones survive this?” Let the courts decide.

Bolt said “checks were done” before he was hired by the News Corp-owned network, where he worked during and after his run on 2GB. Nine has 2 GB, the Herald And Age.

“I wonder how, if this is true, he could have abused 2GB staff for years and years, and no one in authority there knew?” » asked Bolt.

Sky News presenter Peta Credlin has criticized police and the media for what she called unfair treatment of the former broadcaster.

Credlin said it “didn’t sit well with him” that Jones was arrested at his Circular Quay home rather than given the opportunity to report to a police station without the media’s knowledge.

“I have known Alan well for almost two decades and have seen him in many different settings, and the alleged behavior is completely out of character with the man I knew,” she said.

Jones will face Downing Center Local Court in Sydney on December 18.

Start the day with a roundup of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analyses, and ideas. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.