Tate issues Jones with final warning over Jacinda Ardern comments

Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones has been read the riot act and warned he’s on his ‘last strike’ at 2GB following his controversial comments about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

He called the Kiwi PM a ‘joke’ after she took Australia to task at the Pacific Island Forum in Tuvalu and suggested Prime Minister Scott Morrison should “shove a sock down [Ms Ardern’s] throat.”

Jones later issued a statement saying he’d meant “put a sock in it” and claimed there’s been a willful misinterpretation of his comments.

It prompted at least one advertiser to withdraw its support for 2GB and the Jones program.

That saw Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate issue a statement on Saturday, confirming he’d spoken with the controversial broadcaster.

“I have today discussed the matter with Alan and advised him that any recurrence of commentary of this nature will result in the termination of his contract.”

This latest incident follows a string of misdemeanours by Jones.

He was reportedly disciplined by the Macquarie Media board in November, 2018, coming in response to three incidents including Jones being found guilty of defamation (with 2GB paying $3.7 million in damages).

The board was also reportedly unhappy with how Jones handled himself during a now-infamous interview with Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron.

In addition, the broadcaster was found to have breached ACMA decency requirements over his use of the offensive and woefully outdated phrase “n***** in the woodpile”

Despite all this, Jones would go on to sign a new two-year deal with Macquarie in May.

This latest move is an indication Macquarie may be at the end of its tether, but it’s not clear whether Jones will take it lying down.