An external review into the composition of Q&A's audience will be conducted after a man acquitted of terror charges asked a question on the ABC panel program.

Communications Minister Malcom Turnbull announced the review on Sky News this afternoon after Zaky Mallah, who in 2003 was the first man in NSW charged under new anti-terrorism laws, asked the show's panel about plans by the Abbott government to strip dual nationals of their Australian citizenship if they were involved with terrorist groups.

The review, to be conducted by external investigators, will examine the program's objectivity and balance, as well as the composition of audience.

"There was clearly an awareness (in the ABC) of his background and it should have raised questions about the propriety of having him in the audience," Mr Turnbull said.

The minister also raised the question of the physical safety of other audience members and said the ABC will be encouraged to consult the Australian Federal Police in the future.

He said that the broadcaster had committed a "grave error".

During an exchange with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Steve Ciobo he said Australians were “justified” in joining the Islamic State.

“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 [Ciobo],” Mr Mallah said.

"Bloody outrageous," panellist Grahame Morris said, as host Tony Jones quickly struck Mr Mallah's comment as "out of order".

"I think that’s a comment we are going to rule totally out of order. I'm sorry about that. I don't think there is much more to say at this point," he said.

The ABC said Jones had "correctly and immediately" ruled out the claim.

Mr Mallah had questioned what would happen to him under the new counter-terror laws to be introduced this week.

"As the first man in Australia to be charged with terrorism under the harsh Liberal Howard government in 2003, I was subject to solitary confinement, a 22-hour lockdown, dressed in most times in an orange overall and treated like a convicted terrorist while under the presumption of innocence," he said.

"I had done and said some stupid things including threatening to kidnap and kill but, in 2005, I was acquitted of those terrorism charges."

Mr Ciobo said he understood Mr Mallah had been "acquitted on a technicality rather than it being on the basis of a substantial finding of fact".

"But I'm going to look you straight in the eye and say I'd be pleased to be part of a government that would say you're out of the country as far as I'm concerned. I would sleep very soundly at night with that point of view,” Mr Ciobo said.

In a statement released this morning, the ABC said Mr Mallah had participated in multiple media appearances but admitted his comments could not be regulated in a live television environment.

"The environment of a live television broadcast 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," the statement read.

"There is always a risk in undertaking live television. The critical question is whether risks could have been managed and the right editorial judgements made in advance."

In 2003, Mr Mallah allegedly made a video which contained a threat to carry out a suicide attack on federal government offices in Sydney.

The tense exchange comes amid division within government ranks about giving the immigration minister the power to strip the citizenship of dual nationals.