Australian radio host Alan Jones has backtracked after his comments about Jacinda Ardern urging Scott Morrison to 'shove a sock down her throat'
Audio / Newstalk ZB
Controversial Australian broadcaster Alan Jones has again lashed out at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying she should "shut up" - and stop running around the world hugging people.
Jones also criticised her and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for being in Tuvalu when there were pressing domestic issues.
"It's easy to run around the world, smile at people and look good and hug people and all the rest of it," Jones told Newstalk ZB this morning.
"At home, people vote for a particular reason. They want things to be done. And in your country and our country, they're not being done."
Yesterday Jones caused a stir by calling Ardern a "complete clown" and a "lightweight Prime Minister" after taking umbrage at her comments about climate change.
In a statement yesterday, Jones - an outspoken broadcaster and former Wallabies coach - clarified his comment.
"Of course what I meant to say was that Scott Morrison should tell Ms Ardern to 'put a sock in it'.
"There are many people who would relish the opportunity to misinterpret things that I have said as we have seen online this afternoon. Of course I would not wish any harm to Jacinda Ardern.
"This wilful misinterpretation distracts from my point that she was wrong about climate change and wrong about Australia's contribution to carbon dioxide levels."
Alan Jones doubles down today
Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was one of the loudest voices to call out Jones, urging the radio host to apologise for his "misogynistic rant".
Turnbull had praised a comment from Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who said it was "easy to tell someone to shove a sock down a throat when you're sitting in the comfort of a studio".
This morning Jones defended his comments.
"Here she is preaching to us on climate change... Someone's got to tell this woman to keep quiet, put a sock in it.
"It's a metaphorical way of saying shut up. I wish she would shut up. I don't know how New Zealanders handle this."
Alan Jones is feeling the heat over his criticism of Jacinda Ardern.
On and on it goes. Who thinks this is acceptable? Alan Jones tells Scott Morrison to 'shove a sock down throat' of Jacinda Ardern https://t.co/5k3UxUKpFX via @smh
Although Ardern told Kiwi media she would not dignify Jones' initial comments with a response, Morrison was ready to defend his trans-Tasman counterpart.
"I have two daughters, so you can expect that's how I would feel personally about it. I'll leave others to explain what they've said and how they've said it," Morrison told media after a 12-hour Pacific Islands Forum meeting yesterday.
Asked about the comments, Ardern said: "I don't think I will give that comment the light of day – I think I'll just leave it where it is."
However, she did say that Australian media coverage accusing her of "blasting" the Morrison Government was mischaracterised. Morrison agreed.
Australian author and former rugby star Peter FitzSimons defended Ardern on The Hits radio station today, saying Jones' criticisms were "extraordinary".
"It's the latest in a long line of atrocities. He keeps attacking Raelene Castle, the woman in charge of Australian Rugby. He long attacked Julia Gillard. Show him a woman in power and he'll have a go," FitzSimons told The Laura, Sam and Toni breakfast show.
"The Jacinda Ardern comment was disgraceful. You'll be happy to hear that most Australians look at the comment by Jones on your Prime Minister and were appalled."
