Alan Jones (radio broadcaster)

Jones was born to farmer and coal miner Charlie Thomas (1906–90) and former school teacher Elizabeth 'Beth' (née Belford; 1906–82).

Alan was the middle of three children, with an older brother, Robert Charles, and a younger sister, Colleen, both of whom would become school teachers like their mother and brother.

Jones was raised on a dairy farm near Oakey in south-east Queensland, attending primary school at Acland State School, before transferring to Toowoomba Grammar School as a boarder.

After leaving school, Jones trained as a teacher at the Kelvin Grove Teachers College (now part of the Queensland University of Technology) in Brisbane.

Alan Belford Jones (born 13 April 1941 ) is an Australian former radio broadcaster.

He is a former coach of the Australia national rugby union team and rugby league coach and administrator.

He has worked as a school teacher, a speech writer in the office of the Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, and in musical theatre.

He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland, and completed a one-year teaching diploma at Worcester College, Oxford.

He has received civil and industry awards.

In 1961, he commenced his teaching career at a state primary school, Ironside State School in the inner suburbs of Brisbane.

In 1963, he obtained a position at Brisbane Grammar School, a private secondary school for boys, where he remained until the end of 1969.

Throughout this period he also studied part-time at the University of Queensland for a Bachelor of Arts degree, which he was awarded in 1967.

Apart from his teaching duties at Brisbane Grammar, Jones additionally proved to be a highly successful sporting coach in athletics, tennis, and, later, rugby union.

In 1970, Jones was appointed Senior English Master at The King's School, Parramatta in Sydney.

Again Jones was also heavily involved in coaching a number of sports with considerable success, including progressing to coaching the First XV rugby union side, which he took to the championship in an unbeaten season in 1974.

In 1974, a parent at The King's School, Parramatta, Doug Anthony, leader of the Country Party (now the National Party of Australia) in the Australian Parliament, offered Jones a position with the party in Canberra.

At the end of the first term in 1975, following a meeting with the school's principal, Jones chose to resign from the school.

It has been reported that reasons for his resignation include his divisiveness and his inappropriate relationships with students.

After leaving King's School Jones briefly moved to Canberra where he made a failed bid to win preselection to stand as a Country Party candidate for federal parliament.

He then spent several years as the manager of a small airline in Quirindi in country New South Wales, where he also coached the local rugby team.

In 1975, Jones sought party preselection as the candidate for the Federal parliamentary seat of Eden-Monaro, but lost the bid.

During this same period, over 1976–77 while in his mid-30s, Jones spent time in England where he completed a one-year diploma in educational studies at Worcester College, Oxford.

While at Oxford Jones won a university Blue for tennis.

In 1978, Jones returned to Sydney to run for the State Parliament as a Liberal Party candidate.

After failing to win his seat in the election, Jones worked for some time as a speechwriter for the Liberal NSW Opposition leader, John Mason.

In 1978, he was the candidate for the July 1978 by-election for the NSW state seat of Earlwood for the Liberal Party of Australia, formerly held by deposed Liberal leader Sir Eric Willis.

He lost what had been considered a "safe seat".

Jones again contested the seat for the Liberal Party at the 1978 New South Wales state election held in October; the Australian Labor Party candidate was returned with a greater majority.

In 1979, Jones was recruited as a speechwriter for the Liberal Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Fraser, so returned to Canberra for the position, remaining there until early 1981.

In September 1979, Jones stood for Liberal preselection for the Federal Division of North Sydney, placing third in the ballot.

The winning candidate, Peter Solomon was later disendorsed, but Jones did not re-contest the ballot in March 1980, with John Spender taking preselection and winning the seat.

He then moved back to Sydney after being recruited to be executive director of the New South Wales Employers' Federation, where he worked until he began his radio career in 1985.

In October 1985, Jones was awarded the Rostrum Speakers' Award as the Communicator of the Year.

Jones hosted a popular Sydney breakfast radio program on radio station 2GB from 2002 until 2020.

Jones advocates conservative views, and the popularity of his radio program has made him a highly paid and influential media personality in Australia.

Despite his success, he remains a controversial figure.

His on-air conduct has received adverse findings from Australia's media regulators, and he has frequently been sued for defamation.

In May 2020, Jones announced his retirement from his role at 2GB.

In November 2021 it was confirmed that his contract with Sky News Australia would not be renewed.

Since December 2021, Jones has presented Alan Jones: Direct to the People on ADH TV.