Jones ‘did not intend violence’

WELLINGTON: Sydney shockjock Alan Jones has written to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying he did not intend any violence towards her when he said on air that Australia’s Prime Minister should ‘‘shove a sock down [her] throat’’.

The Prime Minister’s office has released the letter which was sent to Ms Ardern on August 16, which was about the same time Mr Jones was coming under heat from his employer about the comments.

Mr Jones’ attack came after Ms Ardern stated that Australia ‘‘had to answer to the Pacific’’ on climate change while in Tuvalu for the Pacific Islands Forum.

He also described Ms Ardern as a ‘‘joke’’ for commenting on climate change, having claimed that New Zealand’s carbon dioxide levels had increased per capita more than Australia’s since 1990.

In the letter Mr Jones began by addressing Ms Ardern as ‘‘my dear Prime Minister’’ and went on to extend a standing invitation to do an interview on his show.

Mr Jones also pointed out he did not wish Ms Ardern any harm and while his comment had not come out as intended, he had meant to say ‘‘put a sock in it’’.

‘‘Prime Minister, I would like to assure you that I did not intend to suggest any violence towards you,’’ the letter said.

At the time the letter was received, Ms Ardern’s office replied to Mr Jones saying they would pass the letter on to her on her return from Tuvalu.

Ms Ardern said of the comments in Tuvalu: ‘‘I don’t know that I’m going to give that the light of day. I think I’ll just leave it where it is.’’

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the comments as ‘‘disappointing’’ and ‘‘way out of line’’. — RNZ