THE radio star was talking at a Liberal Party event and was unaware that his highly insensitive comments were being recorded
Alan Jones has sparked outrage by telling Young Liberals that PM Julia Gillard's father 'died of shame'.
Alan Jones said Prime Minister Julia Gillard's father had died of "shame". "To think that he had a daughter who told lies every time she stood for parliament," Jones said. Source: The Daily Telegraph
Political figures have condemned comments made by Alan Jones about PM Julia Gillard's late father.
List of auction items from the Alan Jones dinner held by Sydney Uni Liberal Club. Source: Supplied
ALAN Jones has apologised publicly to PM Julia Gillard, after claiming that her late father "died of shame".
He said his comments to a Sydney University Liberal Club dinner were unacceptable, and said he had contacted the Prime Minister's office to see if she would accept a personal apology.
A spokesperson for Julia Gillard said the Prime Minister "does not intend to talk to Mr Jones about his comments".
"The comments were, in the light of everything, unacceptable," Alan Jones told a press conference in Sydney today.
"They merit an apology by me."
He said he had not considered resigning over the remarks.
"The advertisers aren?t queuing up to pull their advertising - that's up to the station," he said.
Jones said he had heard the "died of shame" remark at a children's party, and likened it to "black-humoured comments" made in the trenches of Gallipoli.
"I shouldn?t have repeated the story. I'm old enough and smart enough to know that shouldn't have happened," he said.
"It was a throw-away thing at a private function - I thought it was a private function."
Jones said he did not know there was a Sunday Telegraph journalist in the audience, or that his comments were being recorded.
"I spoke without notes for 58 minutes, I've no idea of the material I covered," he said.
Jones said that he was sober when he remade the remark.
He said he did not dislike the Prime Minister, but did dislike her policies.
Mr Jones said he'd raised money in the past for female candidates and he resented any suggestion he didn't think women should be involved in public office.
Jones added that he had been the target of Twitter trolls, who had said they wished his prostate cancer would return.
Jones issued the apology following today's Sunday Telegraph report about his speech to the Sydney University Liberal Club President's Dinner.
The dinner also featured an auction with items that included a jacket made of chaff bags autographed by Jones.
The material is a reference to the broadcaster's infamous comment that Julia Gillard should be "put in a chaff bag and thrown into the sea".
Jones bid on and won the jacket, but said the auction wasn't his idea.
The annual $100-per-head Sydney University Liberal Club President's Dinner was held on the top floor of Sydney's Waterfront restaurant in The Rocks last Saturday.
The Sunday Telegraph was present at the dinner and photographed the auction list, which also included a pair of fishnet stockings autographed by former foreign minister Alexander Downer.
During his 50-minute speech at the dinner, 2GB host and veteran broadcaster told the group of 100 Young Liberals that John Gillard's death was the fault of his proud child.
Alan Jones apologised to Prime Minister Julia Gillard at a press conference in Sydney. Picture: Nikki Short Source: News Limited
Jones went on to suggest Ms Gillard's tears of grief, for a man she publicly said she "will miss for the rest of my life", were what sparked a sudden leap in political polling for her.
The Sunday Telegraph's poll has been inundated with responses, with more than 23,600 readers saying Jones went too far with his comments.
Mr Gillard, a former psychiatric nurse, died in Adelaide on September 8, age 83.
After referring to Ms Gillard's track record with telling the truth to voters over issues including the carbon tax, Mr Jones said her father's death was caused by the Prime Minister herself.
"The old man recently died a few weeks ago of shame," Mr Jones told a group of party members and MPs, including Alex Hawke, Ray Williams and Sussan Ley.
"To think that he had a daughter who told lies every time she stood for parliament.
"Every person in the caucus of the Labor Party knows that Julia Gillard is a liar."
Some members of the audience gasped with surprise.
The radio star went on to say Ms Gillard had enjoyed a recent spike in polls sparked by her tears. He also said she was being given an easy ride by the "brainwashed" Liberal Party who had backed down because she was a woman.
Organisers of the dinner were not aware a journalist from The Sunday Telegraph, who had purchased a ticket, was present.
The Young Liberals club posted a tweet praising the speech the following day: ?brilliant speech by Alan Jones lat night.? No wonder he's the nation's most influential broadcaster! #presdientsdinner"
The tweet has since been deleted and the club tweeted this response to the controversy Jones' words sparked: ?we apologise for recent comments. Alhough out of context and not our own, they've cause offence &distracted from the national debate. AD"
The event was staged by Sydney University Liberal Club president and aspiring MP Alex Dore. Mr Jones has endorsed his political endeavours.
Yesterday, Mr Dore said Mr Jones had not made the comments about Ms Gillard's father. Later, informed there was a recording of the speech, his position changed.
"It was a very long speech and I did not hear it. I have always found Alan to be respectful," Mr Dore said.
He said there was "no need" to "pick apart Alan's speech. All you are doing is reducing it to a very small thing which distracts from the issues facing Australia".
Jones' remarks condemned
Meanwhile, Jones' remarks about the Prime Minister's late father have drawn widespread criticism.
Senior Liberal Malcolm Turnbull said the remarks were cruel and Jones should apologise.
?Alan Jones' comments about the late John Gillard were cruel and offensive. He should apologise to the PM and her family," Turnbull tweeted earlier today.
Conservative columnist Andrew Bolt condemned Jones' comments in this blog this morning.
?Those who were there and are quoted in the article deny hearing any such comment, but if it was indeed said it was very cruel, very wrong," Bolt wrote. ?
?UPDATE: No, the tape confirms it. The remark is shameful. I wish the few Young Liberals who laughed in apparent surprise or scorn had booed or otherwise protested instead.
?Alan Jones is a colleague, and I've long valued his courage. But this is very wrong," Bolt said.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he expected both Alan Jones and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to apologise.
"I've heard indecent things in politics but never something as thoroughly indecent as this," Senator Carr told Network Ten.
Melbourne talkback commentator Neil Mitchell said Opposition Tony Abbott needed to take a stand on the issue.
?What Alan Jones said about Julia Gullard's [sic] late father is poisonous and disgraceful and hurtful. Australia must be above this," he tweeted earlier today.
?Tony Abbott must reject what Jones said and condemn it," the 3AW host tweeted.
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd tweeted: "Alan Jones' comments are lowest of the low. Abbott must dismiss Jones from Liberal Party now & ban him from future Liberal events. KRudd."
This tweet has been removed from the Sydney University Liberal Club's twitter feed. Source: Supplied
Gillard's grief
While paying tribute to her father in parliament on September 19, Ms Gillard spoke of the rough and tumble of politics and how that affected the family.
She said her father "felt more deeply than me, in many ways, some of the personal attacks that we face in the business of politics, but I was always able to reassure him that he had raised a daughter with sufficient strength not to let that get her down".
Mr Jones made several mentions about why Liberal leader Tony Abbott should be Australia's next PM.
"His overweening weakness is his humility. You will never ever hear this bloke argue his ability, his virtue, or indeed his competence," he said.
"He is a man of incomparable integrity and conviction."
The broadcaster said it was vital every member of Mr Abbott's party united behind their leader in the lead-up to the election. Mr Jones said some members of the Labor caucus were scared of the Liberal leader and others thought he was sexist.
Yesterday Mr Jones did not respond to approaches from The Sunday Telegraph.
Mr Williams would not be drawn on Mr Jones' remarks.
"I will just let this one go through to the keeper, the room was a bit a noisy at the time, I can't remember him saying it," he said.
Fellow MPs Mr Hawke and Ms Ley could not be reached.
Mr Abbott had previously expressed his condolences for the Prime Minister.
"This is a tragic time for (Ms Gillard) and we all feel for her at this very sad time," he told parliament. "It is a remarkable parent who produces a prime minister of this country."
During the five-hour event, three spoof songs were sung by Young Liberals member Simon Berger, Woolworths' government relations manager.
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