Radio host Alan Jones’ PM Ardern comments breach community standards

Wellington: A top Australian radio host will provide an on-air correction after aggressive comments directed at New Zealand’s Prime Minister were found to have breached broadcasting rules.

Alan Jones, 79, came under heavy fire last year after employing a series of violent metaphors in a rant on his 2GB radio show about Jacinda Ardern’s criticism of Australia’s inaction on climate change.

Ahead of her meeting with the Australian Prime Minister in August last year, Mr Jones said: “I just wonder whether Scott Morrison’s going to be fully briefed to shove a sock down her throat. He also said he “[hopes] Scott Morrison gets tough here with a few backhanders” and “goes for the throat” in discussions with Ms Ardern. Now, an Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation has found he breached its guidelines, ruling that it “offended against generally accepted community standards of decency”.