Former 2GB host Ray Hadley continues to give evidence at radio ‘rival’ Alan Jones’s trial

The court heard Mr Hadley initially told police the conversation between him and Complainant C about Mr Jones’s alleged offending occurred on October 19, 2019.

He said he discovered this could not have been correct due to the fact that date fell on a Saturday.

He made a correction to his police statement in June 2026, about two years after he made his first statement to police.

There was a back and forth between Mr Hadley and Ms Bashir about the timing of when that realisation occurred in relation to a meeting Mr Hadley had with the trial prosecutors.

Everyone is now back in the courtroom, with Gabrielle Bashir SC to continue her cross-examination of Ray Hadley.

Judge Glenn Walsh has adjourned for the midday break, with proceedings to resume at 2pm.

Mr Hadley has been shown a text message he sent to Complainant C in October 2019 in which the retired radio host called Mr Jones a homophobic slur.

Ms Bashir put to Mr Hadley that he “harboured animosity towards Mr Jones at that time”.

“I wasn’t happy with him,” Mr Hadley said in response.

The trial heard Mr Hadley had been subpoenaed to produce a number of his own text messages, but that he had not done so.

Mr Hadley was next taken to a text message exchange he had with Mr Jones when the latter was unwell in mid-2019.

“Mate, sorry you’re not well. Hope my elixir didn’t make you worse,” Mr Hadley said to Mr Jones in one message.

“You know I love you xxx. Above ground I mean.”

Ms Bashir put to Mr Hadley that sentiment was “rubbish”.

Mr Hadley rejected the suggestion.

“I didn’t want him to die, obviously,” he said.

“We had a tumultuous relationship … but I didn’t wish him to be ill in health.”

Ms Bashir has returned to Mr Hadley’s “secret” contract to replace Mr Jones as breakfast show host.

Mr Hadley said he met with then-CEO of Nine Entertainment, and now managing director of the ABC, Hugh Marks in late 2018 to discuss the contract.

Mr Hadley said Mr Marks had no objections to him taking on the breakfast slot.

Mr Bashir put to Mr Hadley that he met with Mr Marks with the intention of seeing if he would support Mr Hadley in the role “despite the allegations being made against [Mr Hadley]”.

Mr Hadley rejected the suggestion.

Mr Hadley tells the court it’s “quite likely” he called Mr Jones derogatory names to his face.

Ms Bashir has continued to question Mr Hadley about the supposed animosity between himself and Mr Jones.

Asked whether he told Mr Jones he was a “c*** and a dog”, Mr Hadley replied, “yes, it’s quite likely I said that.”

“I was talking to him about his work,” he said.

Questioned about whether Mr Hadley was being honest while giving his evidence, the former radio host replied, “I’ve come here to tell the truth, I’m under oath”.

Mr Hadley said a 2GB colleague, who he described as a “double agent” told him Mr Jones requested that his staff “dig up dirt on Hadley”.

Defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC asked Mr Hadley whether he recalled being accused of assaulting a colleague in the 2GB corridors, which Mr Hadley said CCTV proved never took place.

“Fortunately, there was CCTV in corridors and I didn’t come close [to that person],” he said.

Mr Hadley told the court he later asked management whether the person who made the accusation would be “disciplined” for making a false complaint.

Mr Hadley said he was informed of the accusation by a colleague, who he said was working as a “double agent” for Mr Jones.

Mr Hadley has admitted to following the media coverage of Mr Jones’s indecent assault trial.

He told the court he’d “become more interested in the last few days” but accepted that he had paid some attention to articles written about the hearing throughout the course of the trial.

“I didn’t take much notice until I heard from [Jason] Morrison and [another former 2GB colleague],” he said.