Remarkable video of Nine legend Laurie Oakes giving his VERY blunt opinion of Alan Jones - before Karl Stefanovic fights back
Nine News legend Laurie Oakes denounced Alan Jones as a grub and a very strange bloke in a fiery clash with Karl Stefanovic - before the breakfast show host was forced to defend his friendship with the scandal-plagued shock jock.
Nine News legend Laurie Oakes denounced Alan Jones as a grub and a very strange bloke in a fiery clash with Karl Stefanovic - before the breakfast show host was forced to defend his friendship with the scandal-plagued shock jock.
Oakes comments came during a heated interview on Nines Today show in 2012 following revelations Jones made disparaging remarks about then prime minister Julia Gillards late father, John, at a Young Liberals dinner party.
The old man recently died a few weeks ago of shame, Jones told the Sydney University Liberal Club in a keynote address at the function that September.
To think that he had a daughter who told lies every time she stood for parliament.
The clip resurfaced online this week after Jones was charged with a string of historic sex offences on Monday following accusations he abused his position of power as a top-rating radio host to prey on young men.
The footage began with Stefanovic saying Jones had got it badly wrong when he made the distasteful remarks before going to Oakes for comment after noting Jones wont be sacked though.
No he wont be sacked because he owns a large part of the company that employs him, Karl, and anyway, look, he didnt say this on the radio, Oakes replied.
Its not about whether he should be sacked. Its about whether what he did was appropriate.
Video has resurfaced of Nine News legend Laurie Oakes blasting shock jock Alan Jones and labelling him a grub over his distasteful comments about Julia Gillards late father
Oakes made the comments during a heated interview with the Today shows Karl Stefanovic
And I suppose its also about whether people want to listen to his program. I mean, I find it hard to see how people go near it without clamping a clothes peg over their nose first.
Stefanovic then suggested that Jones ratings actually had a habit of going up whenever he made outrageous or inappropriate comments, only for Oakes to fire back, saying it doesnt say much for the audience, let alone Alan Jones.
I mean Alan Jones has done this sort of thing before, Oakes continued.
He talked about putting Julia Gillard in a chaff bag and then dumping her at sea, and he apologised.
That shows what a Jones apology is worth.
And his excuse for that comment, his excuse for the chaff bag line was, I didnt say, leave her in the ocean. I said, put her out there and let her swim home.
Well, thats terrific, isnt it?
And then we had the recent claim, talking about Julia Gillard and Clover Moore (Sydney Lord Mayor), and other women in politics, when he said, women are destroying the joint.
I mean, hes very strange bloke.
The footage resurfaced after former talkback radio host Alan Jones was charged with a string of historic sex offences on Monday
Oakes gets visibly agitated as the interview continues.
What Alan Jones did was use the death of a parent to score a political point - now thats just about the definition of a grub as far as Im concerned, he said.
Oakes also blasted then-Opposition Leader Tony Abbott for failing to chastise his mate Jones and warns the then opposition leader he should distance himself from the shock jock.
Malcolm Turnbull was out there very early in the morning saying this was a disgusting comment by Alan Jones, he said.
Tony Abbott waits, and then he issues a press statement saying Alan - using the first name to show what mates they are - Alan has behaved ... his comments are out of line.
Everyone else is saying its disgusting, beyond the pale, offensive - to Tony Abbott, its out of line.
I think Tony Abbott needs to distance himself more from Alan Jones, but he wont, because Alan Jones...is a good weapon.
Alan Jones had previously apologised for saying that then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard (pictured) should be dumped in the sea in a chaff bag
When Tony Abbott goes on the Alan Jones program, its not an interview - its Alan Jones making statements and Tony Abbott agreeing with him.
Its almost a coaching session. So no, Tony Abbott wont distance himself.
But I think this is difficult for the Liberal Party, because the Liberals organised this function.
The Sydney University Liberal Club is part of the Liberal Party.
The organisers auctioned off a chaff bag jacket - so much for the Jones apology - Alan Jones had signed it, and he made the biggest bid for it.
As Stefanovic tries to push back on Oakes rage, he comments: You dont have much time for Alan Jones yourself, do you?
Oakes retorts: Well, after this, Karl, do you?
Flummoxed, Stefanvoic stumbles and stutters before revealing his relationship to Jones, and using the exact same line Oakes had just eviscerated Abbott over.
I think its a very difficult situation and I think, well ... Ill declare, Ill declare that, yes, I am friends with Alan Jones, Stefanovic said.
But as for his comments yesterday, I think they were out of line.
Oakes replied: Ah, the Tony Abbott line.