PM orders ‘urgent’ review into ABC over Q&A terror suspect controversy
Tony Abbott has launched an inquiry into the appearance of former terrorism suspect Zaky Mallah on ABC’s Q&A program and insisted that “heads should roll” at the public broadcaster for repeating the show.
The Prime Minister said in Canberra today it was “utterly incomprehensible” that the ABC had “compounded the mistake” by yesterday rebroadcasting the episode
.@steveciobo says he would have banished a person for making threats of terrorism. #QandA http://t.co/zPeOcUMbbB
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) June 22, 2015
Abbott has now ordered the Department of Communications to conduct “an urgent review” into Mallah’s appearance in the Q&A audience on Monday night with the Herald reporting Abbott told reporters this morning that: “frankly, heads should roll over this, heads should roll over this.”
But the move was condemned by the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) who branded the government’s stance as another attack on press freedom.
“In the past year the Government has attacked press freedom, the freedom of access to information and freedom of expression through its amendments to Australia’s national security laws,” MEAA chief executive Paul Murphy said.
“Now the Government is at it again with this inquiry over an incident for which the ABC has already apologised and launched its own investigation into. Clearly the Government is seeking to directly influence editorial decisions at the national broadcaster.”
The ABC has responded to the inquiry with a spokesman saying: “The government has announced a review and the ABC will cooperate as required.”
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull stressed the need to understand what compelled the ABC to invite Mallah to take part.
“I think it’s very important that we get an understanding of the reason this judgment call was made which was clearly, as the ABC has acknowledged, so mistaken,” he said.
A statement from the Department of Communications said: “The Minister has asked the Department to undertake an urgent investigation into the context and decisions regarding the appearance of Mr Zaky Mallah on the ABC’s Q & A program on 22 June 2015.
“The ABC has agreed to fully cooperate with this inquiry.
“The Department will be reporting in the week of 29 June 2015.”
The SMH report also quoted Abbott as saying he was “not satisfied” with only an internal ABC inquiry “because so often we’ve seen virtual whitewashes when that sort of thing happens”.
Comment is being sought from the Prime Minister’s office.
Steve Jones
The content of Q&A is something for the ABC to worry about and not Tony Abbott. If he has a problem he should talk to the Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and he can take it up with the ABC Board. The ABC is not there for any politician to dictate it content.
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Now that’s a reaction of a Prime Minister who has control issues. One has to applaud the ABC for sticking their middle finger up at our Governments attempt to thwart freedom of speech.
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I would have thought that a right-wing government would be upholding the principle of free speech, no?
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Mallah has also previously appeared on SBS and Ten (more than once), as well as other media outlets. His rhetoric in the media is inconsistent at best but the fact is, he wasn’t convicted of terrorism offences and there’s no grounds to restrict his rights to make comments, as stupid and puerile as many of us find them. Seems to me he’s seeking attention, and Abbott is helping supply it to him. I agree with Lindsay in that this is a matter for ABC management to deal with, and not an appropriate matter for government intervention. Has Abbott got nothing better to spend his time on? I can think of a few things if he’s twiddling his thumbs.
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This is getting embarrassing. Abbott and co have obviously realised this will be as close to a fk-up as the ABC will make and are going to yell and scream until they’ve managed to con enough people into thinking privatisation should be an option.
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Seriously? A PM has time to review one episode of a TV program?
Rupert’s bitch (TA) is going above and beyond the call of duty to his leash-holder here.
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This Prime Minister of ours is just utter garbage. How much longer are we going to put up with this?
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He was on The Project the following night… Launch an inquiry into Murdoch!
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sub-editor: CORRECT!
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Heads should roll, eh? Better consult ISIS.
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I think they should worry more about creating a sustainable future for Australia and less about news du jour, oh (listens to earpiece) …they can’t do the first one….
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We have freedom of speech, who is our prime minister to waste our money on such ridiculous investigations.
I am a labour supporter but even I am at my wits end with his garbage.
He is a child with too much power. Heads should roll!
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So TA was ecstatic when the ABC tore Rudd, Gillard and their opposition apart, even raising it in Parliament with considerable glee.
And now, because the ABC has supported the democratic right to free speech which we all theoretically “enjoy” in this country, they are up in arms like a bunch of school children whose lunches have been pilfered. You can’t have your cake and eat it too boys.
Tony, Malcolm and cohorts – pull your heads in and start governing this country like you actually mean it. We want real policies which deal with the realities of climate change, unemployment, health care, etc.
Otherwsie we’ll just keep voting until we get a government that can actually do the job.
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The ABC is to be condemned for its failure to act in a responsible manner towards the citizens it serves. No point saying anything more as only anti-government comments are published here.
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Sorry you think defending the right of the ABC to be free from political interference is anti-government Lindsay, but it is not. It is simply defending the ABC.
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Garbage government, garbage opposition, garbage ABC. Garbage, garbage, garbage.
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How much of this is being driven by the deal between Abbott and Murdoch in return for support both ways? Murdoch wants the ABC cut down and Abbott will do as he is told – as he has proven time and time again with Alan Jones.
Abbott is just a shocker. Liked him better when he was making Prince Phillip a knight. At least then you could laugh at him.
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‘Heads should roll?’ Beheadings at the ABC? That sounds like a terrorist threat!
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People deliberately ekeing Abbott’s comments to feed into their own propaganda. The issue is NOT freedom of speech. But how and why was a convicted criminal who made threats to kill ASIO officers, purchased a gun and ammunition to carry it out invited allowed into the ABC studio with high profile politicians and government staff? Judging by the YouTube video he posted yesterday, [edited by Mumbrella].
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Marty, nobody has ever suggested Mallah was a model citizen. However his views have been considered to be worth publishing in the Courier-Mail and The Australian and he has been a guest on a number of television programs. All without any fuss. Just why Abbott and others from the far right should be judging the ABC differently to these media outlets is the mystery which is befuddling many. We do still have free speech in this country, but that might be something soon to be banished too.
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Does anyone remember when David Hicks – then convicted Terrorist and Gitmo detainee – asked John Howard questions on Q&A?
How far we’ve regressed when the same happens years later and this is how we react.
Grow some balls (and a real Governement) Australia
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