35 Alan Jones

Alan Jones is much more than just a radio host: he's a self-appointed ombudsman on a mission to right society's wrongs. On-air he rants and raves; off-air he pesters politicians and important decision makers with endless correspondence.

His 2GB heir apparent Ray Hadley now has a bigger audience share and appeals to a younger demographic, but there’s no question Jones remains a megaphone par excellence. Unlike other shock jocks, he refuses to let politicians set the agenda and is not afraid to tackle topics that seem to have little appeal to his big city listeners.

Over the past year, he’s waged a ferocious campaign against coal seam gas companies forcing farmers off their land -- an issue Labor and the Coalition had put in the ‘too-hard’ basket – and reform of water use in the Murray Darling Basin.

He’s also encouraged a coarsening of public debate by labeling his foes dupes and idiots. And he’s famously called for the Prime Minister -- whom he has renamed "Ju-liar" -- to be shoved in a chaff bag and thrown out to sea.

Although he’s had regular stints off the air of late due to illness and theatrical commitments (he’s starred in Annie: The Musical), we think he’ll be around for some time yet. 

"He is like Godzilla roaming around eating power lines," Phillip Adams told us. "Rather than getting electrocuted, he grows stronger."

*For more on Alan Jones see the original profile.