Alan Jones sued over Qld flood claims

Businessman Denis Wagner is suing radio broadcaster Alan Jones for defamation over claims he made against him on air regarding the 2011 Grantham flood.

Radio presenter Alan Jones.

Alan Jones is being sued for defamation over claims he made regarding the 2011 Grantham flood. (AAP)

Radio broadcaster Alan Jones is being sued for defamation over claims he made against a prominent Queensland businessman and his family over their involvement in the deadly 2011 Grantham flood.

Denis Wagner lodged defamation proceedings against Mr Jones and 2GB's licensee Harbour Radio Pty Ltd in the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Mr Wagner says he and his family had endured sustained attacks for years from Mr Jones, particularly over false claims that his family was responsible for devastating flooding that claimed 12 lives in the southeast Queensland in January 2011.

He said his family and its company Wagners were also unfairly targeted during the construction and operation of its Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport in Toowoomba.

"The outcome of proceedings will hopefully in some way go toward correcting the false and defamatory statements about the 2011 Grantham flood tragedy and the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport that have caused significant damage to the reputation of our family, the operation of the airport and our wider business interests," Mr Wagner said in a statement.

The Grantham Floods Commission of Inquiry's final report handed down earlier this month found a quarry owned by Wagners during the flood did not contribute to the disaster, despite Mr Jones and some residents claiming otherwise.

When handing down his report, Commissioner Walter Sofronoff said he felt Mr Wagner was "viciously blamed by some elements of the media".

Mr Sofronoff described the disaster as an "act of God" that couldn't have been avoided.

Comment is being sought from Mr Jones.


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Source: AAP



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