Last night’s edition of Q&A focussed on the issue of free speech. That’s notable, considering one panellist used her position on the panel to spout some comments which were much, much better left unsaid.
Audiences were left confused by the presence of Teena McQueen, the federal vice president of the Liberal Party, whose used her appearance on the show to do the following:
- Diminish the actions of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the aftermath of a terror attack in Christchurch, which left 50 people dead;
- Say Ardern simply copied the actions of former Australian PM John Howard, who enacted gun control laws in 1996 after the Port Arthur massacre;
- Deny an uptick in the kind of white supremacist ideologies which polluted the mind of the attacker;
- Say criticism of right-wing commentators like Andrew Bolt was a more toxic force than Bolt’s own statements;
- Praise US President Donald Trump, while appearing to boast about the time they met in 2006;
- Reference a weird “cock” joke and compare it to Trump’s infamous “pussy” comments;
- Severely fuck up the name of co-panellist Roxane Gay, calling her “Rosa.”
Any of those comments would likely have drawn ire. Combined, they represent one of the most counterproductive appearances on the show in recent memory.
Here’s McQueen needling at Ardern’s handling of the tragedy, which has been hailed at home and abroad as a strong, courageous, and compassionate display of leadership:
Will Jacinda’s example lead to a swing against the standard masculine, power driven politicians in the election? #QandA pic.twitter.com/NzrPetvrrU
— QandA (@QandA) March 25, 2019
Here’s McQueen spouting off about her time with Trump and the fact he wasn’t a pervert in her presence. It was a comment which caused Gay to make the observation “just because you didn’t have an experience with him, doesn’t mean he hasn’t done these terrible things.”
.@Tony_Burke, @SimonJCowan and @MehreenFaruqi discuss Trump and the US/Australia alliance #QandA pic.twitter.com/jJTzroQPJA
— QandA (@QandA) March 25, 2019
Then McQueen said “the worst hate speech I’ve heard recently is Richard Di Natale,” saying his comments have somehow incited violence “against the likes of Andrew Bolt” but stopping short of providing examples.
She also classified known alt-right grifter and agitator Milo Yiannopolous as “an entertainer.” McQueen’s assertion that people paid to see Yiannopolous speak just to be entertained prompted Gay to say “once again, you’re using your personal experience as a metric for reality”.
On McQueen’s claim Di Natale’s criticism of racist right-wing commentary was equal to that discrimination itself, co-panellist and Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi said “racism, and calling out racism, is not morally equivalent. It is nonsense to say they are the same, middle of the spectrum.”
Teena McQueen says Richard Di Natale used hate speech against Andrew Bolt #QandA pic.twitter.com/rQd2v2zmGs
— QandA (@QandA) March 25, 2019
Here’s her comment that “thankfully, [racist violence] is not an everyday occurrence in Australia” drawing derisive laughter from Gay and the audience.
With signs of neo-nazi activity in Adelaide, am I in danger? #QandA pic.twitter.com/vpngRpsqhe
— QandA (@QandA) March 25, 2019
Oh, here’s McQueen calling Gay “Rosa”, too.
The panel discuss Gladys Berejiklian’s NSW election win #QandA pic.twitter.com/yETxPp28J7
— QandA (@QandA) March 25, 2019
McQueen’s showing was criticised by Gay herself, who said she basically relented from her on-screen criticism out of pity.
https://twitter.com/rgay/status/1110154358673440768
Criticism has been expressed in her own party, too. The Sydney Morning Herald this morning reported that senior figures in the Liberal Party had previously requested she stop appearing on network television on account of her less-than-eloquent commentary.
The SMH reports other high-ranking Liberal Party figures have received complaints about McQueen’s appearance.
In all, it represents one of the gnarliest, most confusing performances on a show designed to extract the worst takes from people who should know better. You can peep the whole ordeal here.
