Face of Nation : New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has delivered a cheeky sledge to broadcaster Alan Jones after he suggested Australia’s PM should “shove a sock down her throat”.
Asked about the controversy that erupted after Ms Ardern’s comments about Australia’s climate change efforts, the NZ PM said she had tried very hard to avoid reacting to Jones’ comment.
“I don’t have an opinion on every single person who says something about me. Particularly given this is an Australian commentator, we’ve got enough of our own to occupy my time,” she told NZ morning news and talk show The AM Show.But she did say she thought response may be best delivered on the rugby field, pointing to Jones’ past as coach of the Wallabies from 1984 to 1988.
She did not want to be drawn into whether Jones’ comments were too aggressive or whether he should be fired, saying “it’s a matter for across the ditch”. “I am a politician, I am open for criticism and, of course, we should all be held to account and the idea that any politician could or should be protected, I absolutely rally against that.
“You should see my social media. We sign up for that when we are politicians. I have tried very hard, specifically on this Alan Jones comment, you won’t find me having particularly reacted or responded.” Jones has faced a storm of criticism and his role as a radio broadcaster for 2GB is now on the line after his comment about Ardern saw a string of advertisers withdraw their support for his show.
Jones initially doubled down on his comments before apologising to Ms Ardern. Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate said Jones had been advised he would be fired if a similar incident occurs. “Here she is preaching on global warming and saying that we’ve got to do something about climate change,” Mr Jones said on his program.
“I just wonder whether Scott Morrison is going to be fully briefed to shove a sock down her throat. “She’s a clown, Jacinda Ardern; a complete clown.” He later wrote on social media that Ms Ardern was “a joke, this woman; an absolute and utter lightweight”.
Mr Jones, who previously suggested former Prime Minister Julia Gillard should be put in a “chaff bag” and thrown out to sea, initially insisted his comments had been “wilfully misrepresented” before acknowledging he was in the wrong. The clip was taken from Jones’ 2GB radio program on August 15, and was part of his original attack against Ms Ardern.
In it, the audibly angry host can be heard saying: “This lightweight New Zealand Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern is challenging Scott Morrison over climate change. Now I hope Scott Morrison gets tough here with a few backhanders … hasn’t got a clue this woman.” The comments emerged after Jones made an unexpected appearance on 2GB on Friday evening to offer his regret.
“I was wrong, and I apologise,” he told listeners. “When these things happen, you’ve just got to man up, pivot, face it and apologise for it. “We don’t want that sort of offence to be given in 2019. I accept it’s careless. I accept it’s wrong. “She’s both a politician and a mother.” Nine Entertainment last week said it wouldn’t try to rein in Jones and his fellow talkback shock jocks when it takes full ownership of Macquarie Radio. But Macquarie Radio said on Sunday it was prepared tear up the star’s multi- million contract if he repeated “commentary of this nature”.
The company only re-signed Mr Jones on a lucrative two-year contract in May following months of tense negotiations. Koala Mattress, Anytime Fitness and Volkswagen are the latest brands to cut ties with Jones’ radio show. “Koala has cut ties with Alan Jones … We’re a significant buyer in the medium, and it’s something we should have done earlier,” the company posted on Twitter.
Anytime Fitness also withdrew its advertising spend from Macquarie Radio on Monday, joining the likes of ME Bank, Snooze, Bing Lee and Amart amid rising backlash over Jones’ remarks. “The comments made last week by Alan Jones regarding Jacinda Ardern (sic) do not represent our view or values,” Anytime Fitness said in a Facebook post.
