A complainant in the ongoing indecent assault trial of former broadcaster Alan Jones has testified that he disclosed alleged sexual misconduct to high-profile media figures Ray Hadley and Peter FitzSimons as early as 2019. The witness, referred to as Complainant C, gave evidence on Monday in the NSW Local Court, detailing his struggle to balance the professional necessity of maintaining a relationship with Jones against the trauma of alleged abuse.
Disclosures to Industry Peers
Complainant C told the court that he was prompted to speak with author Peter FitzSimons after being approached by radio host Ray Hadley. According to the witness, Hadley asked in 2019 if he would be willing to speak with FitzSimons, who was then researching allegations regarding Jones. During a phone conversation with FitzSimons—with Hadley listening—the complainant described how Jones had allegedly kissed and touched him without consent.
This report draws on information published by abc.net.au and smh.com.au.
Despite these disclosures, the complainant testified that he explicitly requested that his identity remain protected and that the information not be publicized. “I told him how Alan used to kiss me, how he used to touch me on the penis,” the witness stated. He explained that at the time, he did not want to be associated with public allegations against the broadcaster, whom he described as “the most powerful person in Australia” and someone whose influence often dictated state policy.
Professional Pressure and “Flirtatious” Messaging
The court heard extensive details regarding a long-term exchange of text messages between Jones and the complainant. Defence counsel Gabrielle Bashir SC questioned the nature of these communications, suggesting that the complainant had initiated contact and engaged in “flirtatious” behavior. The complainant acknowledged the messages but maintained they were a strategic, albeit deeply uncomfortable, effort to “curry favour” and maintain a professional connection with a man who held significant sway over his career.
“I was flirting with him because he was the most powerful person in Australia,” the witness said under cross-examination. He described a “routine” to these interactions, noting that he often felt compelled to respond to inappropriate references to his body to avoid conflict. He stated that reading the messages now causes him to feel “genuinely nauseous,” rejecting the defense’s suggestion that the alleged assaults never occurred.
Context of Other Disclosures
Complainant C also testified that he had confided in several friends and colleagues, as well as his father-in-law, about the alleged misconduct. He recounted a conversation with his father-in-law during the height of the #MeToo movement, where the elder man expressed skepticism about public allegations. The complainant said he used that moment to reveal his own experience, which prompted an immediate apology and expressions of sympathy from his father-in-law.
The current trial, where Jones faces 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching, continues as the court examines the credibility of both the complainant’s testimony and the extensive digital evidence presented by the defense.