In their attitudes, Jones’ listeners are much more conservative than other Australians. For example, 77 per cent of his listeners believe that the fundamental values of ‘our society’ are under threat compared to 66 per cent of all Australians.
Jones’ frequent beating of the law and order drum mirrors the fearfulness of his listeners. Sixty-eight per cent say they feel less safe than they used to, compared to 49 per cent of all Australians, and they are more likely to believe that crime is growing.
The evidence presented in this paper indicates that perceptions of Jones’ influence and political sway are disproportionate to the size and nature of his audience. His listeners are much more conservative and authoritarian in their views than other Australians. His audience is small - about the same as a low-rating television program - and highly concentration among older listeners with well-established and inflexible political allegiances. This suggests that his influence is based more on networking and fear of on-air criticism than a real ability to shift votes.
