It was considered a highpoint in Michael Daley’s campaign to become Premier of NSW when he accepted an invitation to a mauling in Alan Jones’ “den with microphones” a few weeks ago. It could easily have been a case of: “fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”
But the Opposition leader came with a game plan based on the maxim that the best form of defence is attack. So,rather than try to defend himself from the inevitable Jones verbal onslaught, he would take the attack to Jones instead.
Jones has been on the board of the SCG for some 30 years and was instrumental in convincing the Liberal government that it was necessary to rebuild of both the Sydney Football Stadium at Moore Park and the Olympic stadium at Homebush for a total close to two billion dollars. Labor campaigned on a policy of ‘schools and hospitals before stadiums.’
In a heated exchange on March 5, Daley told Jones, “If I’m elected, the board will go, I want a new broom through. I know you’ve been on that board for 30 years … but the board will go, it will be sacked.”
As the 13 minute interview wrapped up and Jones thanked Daley for coming in, Daley couldn’t help taking a parting shot. Referring once again to his intention to sack Jones, he quipped, “Thanks for your service.”
While Daley seemed to win that round and earned plaudits from his base for standing up to Jones, the wheels started falling off the Labor campaign soon after, ending in a disastrous defeat last Saturday.
That night, as it became apparent that Gladys Berejiklian had retained government for the liberals, Jones who was on the Sky News expert panel remarked, “To you, Michael Daley, I just have one observation: thank you for your service!”
Read more and listen to the interview here.
Meanwhile Alan Jones is reportedly close to signing off on a 2-year extension to his contract with Macquarie Media.
The Australian is reporting today that discussions on a new contract have gained momentum and Jones will be offered a deal that will take him through to his 80th birthday.
The deal could be worth $4.5 million per year plus bonuses and may not include any onerous conditions.
According to the Australian, Macquarie Media’s two major shareholders, Nine and John Singleton, are finally on the same page about getting the deal done.
