Alan Jones breached decency rules over 'inaccurate' comments on climate change and Jacinda Ardern
Alan Jones has been ordered make an on-air correction over his 'inaccurate' comments on and after calling the prime minister a 'complete clown'. The Australian Communications and Media Authority found the veteran broadcaster breached decency rules last year after he called on to 'shove a sock down her throat' following Ardern's comments about climate change. 'I just wonder whether Scott Morrison's going to be fully briefed to shove a sock down her throat... Now I hope Scott Morrison gets tough here with a few backhanders,' the 2GB Breakfast host said on air last August, shocking listeners. Jones' comments about Ardern came after the New Zealand leader said the Morrison government 'will have to answer to the Pacific' on global warming during the Pacific Islands Forum in the Pacific Islands. The ACMA found the 79-year-old's statements regarding Ms Ardern were 'offended against generally accepted community standards of decency'. The sanctions included an incorrect assertion made by Jones that biomass is a fossil fuel, and the incorrect presentation of figures relating to Australia's and New Zealand's percentage of energy use from solar and wind. The ACMA found that these comparisons were not based on like-for-like data. 'The factual error and inconsistent information were used to incorrectly portray that Australia generates more of its energy from renewables than New Zealand,' ACMA Chair Nerida O'Loughlin said in a statement on Thursday. Ms O'Loughlin said broadcasters had a responsibility under their own industry code to use reasonable efforts to ensure the facts presented are accurate. The findings come after the media heavyweight announced his retirement last week after 35 years on the airwaves, citing advice from doctors. Jones insisted it was his decision to step away from radio halfway through his $8 million two-year contract due to health reasons. But sources claim Jones' departure has been in the pipeline at Nine - who owns 2GB - for several months following a massive fallout from advertisers and public backlash over his controversial comments about Ms Ardern. Jones' comments have cost Nine an estimated $20 million and affected the company's ability to lure lucrative advertising deals. More than 100 advertisers, including Coles, Big W, Commonwealth Bank, McDonalds and Bunnings cancelled their spending with 2GB in the wake of the saga, which reportedly cost an estimated $80,000 a day in lost revenue. It's understood the decision was made after Nine Radio boss Tom Malone visited Jones at his Fitzroy Falls property earlier this month, The Sunday Telegraph reported. Jones took a week off before returning to work last Monday, when he told his long-serving team he would finish up at the end of this month. Both Jones and Nine insist the broadcaster is leaving on his terms. 'It was Alan who invited me down to his farm for lunch,' Mr Malone told the publication. 'We were able to facilitate Alan's request to stand down due to health reasons.' Nine acquired 2GB shortly after Jones faced widespread public backlash last August when he called Ms Ardern a 'complete clown'. Jones later wrote to Ms Ardern to unconditionally apologise for the public slur. 'Prime Minister, I would like to assure you that I did not intend to suggest any violence towards you,' he wrote in an email sent to Ms Ardern. Jones also issued a publicly apology on air while his then-employer Macquarie Radio warned he would be sacked if similar comments were made again.