Credit where it’s due, when they smell blood they certainly don’t waste any time circling the wound.
“The Liberals have just justified to many Australian Muslims in the community tonight to leave and go to Syria and join ISIL because of ministers like him.”
“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.”
“Q&A will continue to raise issues that are provocative and controversial. There is always risk in undertaking live television. That is the nature of the Q&A program since it first aired in 2008.As has been the case in the past on Q&A, circumstances will happen that are not anticipated. The critical question is whether risks could have been managed and the right editorial judgments made in advance.”
“The circumstances of Mr Mallah’s appearance will be reviewed by the ABC.”
“He was obviously planted in the audience as a ‘gotcha’ moment.”
“Q&A is a program that’s tilted to the left but when they push the envelope and tilt towards a terrorist recruitment advertisement – that’s just a bridge too far.”
And Queensland LNP Senator James McGrath flat-out called for the programme to be scrapped altogether following the incident.
QANDA is out of control. The ABC Board should reform it or abolish the programme. Taxpayers are being ripped off. #auspol #qanda
— James McGrath (@JamesMcGrathLNP) June 23, 2015
The frontbench too was having their say on matters, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott apparently telling the Liberal Party Room that the show was a “lefty lynch mob” and that he would be doing something about it.
“I’m not going to repeat things that were said in the confidentiality of the party room. The party room is a sacred space. What goes in the party room, stays in the party room.”“What our National Broadcaster has done is give a platform to a convicted criminal and terrorist sympathiser. I believe the National Broadcaster has badly let us down.”“The ABC needs to have a long, hard look at itself.”“At some point you need to decide ‘Who’s side are you on?’.”
It’s interesting to note that the Press Conference – which largely focused on the introduction of the Government’s controversial laws that will enable them to strip the citizenship of dual nationals found to be engaged in the loosely defined term “terrorist activities” – took place in front of 10 Australian flags.
The terror level has been raised from 6 flags to an unprecedented 10.
The use of the term ‘Death Cult’ is imminent. pic.twitter.com/5b5CZLKoyf
— Not Tony Abbott (@notTAbbott) June 23, 2015
Notable because the term “death cult” was indeed used on at least 3 occasions.
There are five times as many Australian flags at Tony Abbott’s press conference than women in his Cabinet.
— Denham Sadler (@denhamsadler) June 23, 2015
Again, credit where it’s due: Swish.
