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Mixed reaction to NSW Law Society pulling advertising from Alan Jones’ show
The Law Society of NSW has withdrawn advertising from 2GB in the wake of offensive comments from shock jock Alan Jones, drawing both positive and negative reactions from the legal community online.
Jerome Doraisamy
In a brief statement posted on social media on Monday, the representative body for 30,000 Premier State-based legal practitioners, announced via social media that it had “pulled all advertising” from 2GB, effectively immediately.
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The decision comes in the wake of Mr Jones using the phrase “n***er in the woodpile” during a live broadcast last week, while discussing the challenge of Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership of the Liberal Party.
The shock jock “made some on-air comments which do not align with the Law Society’s values, and which we found inappropriate and offensive”, the Society posted.
“The Law Society will not align itself with platforms that allow offensive, racist or divisive commentary in our community.”
The NSW body had been running a promotional campaign which had included radio advertising.
Reactions on the Law Society’s Twitter feed were largely positive, with commenters calling it “heartening news”, “excellent leadership” and noting it is “so important to take a stand”.
“Such heartening news. An organisation standing up for what is right, decent and just in our society. Congratulations,” wrote @winimwil.
But others were displeased. @EzequielTrumper, who is a principal solicitor at Haller & Grad Lawyers, based in Edgecliff NSW, wrote: “I don’t agree with boycotting journalists, full stop. Is the @LawSocietyNSW saying then they will only advertise on shows led by people it agrees with? That is a dangerous precedent and I am not on Alan Jones’ camp. Freedom of Speech is the bedrock of society. Don’t break it.”
Another lawyer, @carlofini, responded with: “Precious! Will you campaign to withdraw law books from every bookshop and library that contains any books you find offensive? E.g. [sic] old law reports on the status of women? Burn the law reports that contain judgments that are racist? How about Vol 1 of Cth Statutes in 1901?”
Correction: An earlier version of this article referred to Ezequiel Trumper as an Australian lawyer admitted in New Zealand and Argentina. The article has now been amended to reflect Mr Trumper's title to that as being a principal solicitor at Haller & Grad Lawyers.
