Audio unearthed by ABC Radio has revealed shock jock Alan Jones said he hoped Jacinda Ardern would get "a few backhanders" from the Australian Prime Minister.
The polarising 78-year-old broadcaster could be heard saying: "Now I hope [Prime Minister] Scott Morrison gets tough here with a few backhanders - hasn't got a clue this woman."
The fresh comments appeared to have been overlooked at the time because, during the same audio broadcast on August 15 last week, Jones suggested Morrison "shove a sock down" Ardern's throat when he met her in Tuvalu.
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Morrison himself has described Jones' comments as "way out of line", and Jones' boss, Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate, warned that the broadcaster's contract would be terminated if he made similar statements again.
Jones is facing immense fallout from the comments. At least a dozen companies - including Mercedes-Benz - are now distancing themselves from the radio station 2GB which broadcasts his talkshow.
The shock jock made the comments following widespread reporting of Ardern at the Pacific Islands Forum. She said Australia "has to answer to the Pacific" as smaller Pacific nations urged Australia to reduce its coal reliance.
"She is just a joke this woman, an absolute and utter light-weight," Jones said in response. "These people are an absolute joke and Jacinda Ardern is the biggest joke."
Ardern has since said she won't respond directly to Jones. She told The AM Show she didn't need to have an opinion on everything said about her.
"I am a politician, I am open for criticism and of course, we should all be held to account and the idea that any politician could or should be protected, I absolutely rally against that," she said.
"I don't have an opinion on every single person that says something about me, particularly given this is an Australian commentator. We have enough of our own to occupy my time."
Jones has said he's written to the Prime Minister to apologise. He said he never wished her any harm, and would "always wish her the best... I have erred and made a mistake".
Newshub.
