ABC Admits “Error In Judgement” For Last Night’s Q&A Guest

The ABC has been peddling backwards after a Q&A audience member said that Australian muslims who disagree with Liberal politicians are “justified” in joining ISIS.

Zaky Mallah, who pleaded guilty to making death threats against parliamentary officials back in 2003, spent two years in high security jail in Goulburn before he was acquitted on two terrorism charges.

During Q&A, Mallah commented on the government’s plans to strip dual national citizens of their Australian citizenship if they are involved in terrorist acts.

Watch the full exchange between @zakymallah and @steveciobo on @QandA. The ABC will now review Mr Mallah’s appearance http://t.co/0neRuNkRx3
— ABC News (@abcnews) June 23, 2015

“I think that’s a comment we are going to rule totally out of order,” Q&A host Tony Jones said, “I’m sorry about that. I don’t think there is much more to say at this point.”

This morning the director of ABC Television, Richard Finlayson said in a statement: “In attempting to explore important issues about the rights of citizens and the role of the Government in fighting terrorism, the Q&A program made an error in judgement in allowing Zaky Mallah to join the audience and ask a question.

“Mr Mallah has been interviewed by the Australian media on a number of occasions. The environment of a live television broadcast, however, meant it would not be possible for editorial review of the comments he might make prior to broadcast, particularly if he engaged in debate beyond his prepared question.

“Tony Jones correctly and immediately ruled a statement made by Mr Mallah as out of order.”

Twitter, as it usually does during a Q&A broadcast, exploded:

For crying out loud Zacky!! You don’t speak for us! #QandA. — Mariam Veiszadeh (@MariamVeiszadeh) June 22, 2015

This shows ABC irresponsible for giving Zaky Mallah a platform on #qanda for his attention seeking. Disgrace. https://t.co/nzRuIuTJKj — Neil Walker (@MediaMook) June 22, 2015

Hey #qanda best sack your researches, you missed this gem! @ABCNews24 #auspol @TonyAbbottMHR pic.twitter.com/G1uqwRqwr0 — 58 (@Welsh58) June 22, 2015

*puts ears to ground* Ah that’s the sound of every conservative opinion writer in the country opening their laptops #qanda — Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) June 22, 2015

Libs targeting last night’s episode of #qanda – Mr @steveciobo will be one popular lad today: http://t.co/w70zabudVd — Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) June 22, 2015

@3AWNeilMitchell going after #QandA‘s lack of standards. What sort of audience applauds a terror sympathiser? — Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) June 22, 2015

Thanks goodness there was a terror suspect on #qanda last night so nobody has to talk about Indigenous land rights. — Alison Croggon (@alisoncroggon) June 22, 2015

#QandA I don’t believe Jones can justify having a terror suspect threaten a govt polly and exhort Muslims to join ISIS! Hope it gets out!
— Bill Henry (@BigBilly3) June 22, 2015

We need more Waleed Alys and less Zaky Mallahs in the debatre surrounding terrorism and radicalisation #qanda — Stef Cai (@PoliticalPanda_) June 22, 2015

I was all prepared to give that young man the benefit of the doubt until he opened his mouth and spoke garbage #qanda
— Dame Sandy (@SandyJB57) June 22, 2015

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