Prosecutors have downgraded some of the most serious sex abuse charges against veteran broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones after a court hearing on Thursday.
Mr Jones now faces 27 charges which allege that he indecently assaulted or groped nine men over two decades.
Eleven charges of aggravated indecent assault - deemed more serious as they allegedly related to people under his authority - were downgraded on Thursday. Some charges were also dropped altogether.
The influential 84-year-old media figure has denied all charges and the case - which will now be heard before a magistrate, not a jury - will return to court next month.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund indicated there was a reformation of the case after two alleged victims withdrew, though no explanation was provided for their withdrawal.
Mr Jones now faces 25 counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching.
His lawyer, Bryan Wrench, characterized the dropped charges as a very big development and a significant concession. He explained that there is no suggestion that Jones had these complainants under his authority.
Police previously indicated that some alleged victims knew the radio titan personally, and at least one was employed by him. Others reportedly faced misconduct during their initial meetings with Jones.
In December, Jones described the allegations as baseless or as ones that distort the truth.
A former teacher, Mr Jones coached Australia's national rugby union team between 1984 and 1988, transitioning into a prominent radio career afterward.
Aside from broadcasting, he engaged in political commentary and had numerous controversial moments, including past allegations that led to defamation lawsuits against him.
Having retired from full-time work in 2020 due to health issues, Jones remains a polarizing figure in Australian media.
