Malcolm Turnbull knocks back Q&A invitation, insists it is not a boycott

Updated

Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has knocked back an invitation from the ABC's Q&A program to appear tonight.

Mr Turnbull is the third member of Government to do so, with Defence Minister Kevin Andrews and parliamentary secretary Alan Tudge also declining offers to be guests on tonight's program.

The Menzies Research Centre's Nick Cater also withdrew, saying the centre had to protect its reputation.

The Australian's editor-at-large Paul Kelly has agreed to appear instead, with other confirmed guests tonight including human rights commissioner Tim Wilson and deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek.

Q&A has been embroiled in controversy after last Monday's program included Zaky Mallah, a terrorist sympathiser who pleaded guilty to threatening to kill ASIO officers and has posted violent tweets about women, in the live audience.

Mr Turnbull insisted it was not a boycott.

"In due course I have no doubt that all of us will be appearing on ABC programs including Q&A in the future," he said.

Mr Turnbull did appear on the ABC's Insiders program yesterday, accusing Q&A of "undergraduate, tabloid journalism" for choosing a "discredited" and "dangerous" person to put the view that national security laws could be counterproductive.

In a feisty exchange, Mr Turnbull said Insiders host Barrie Cassidy had "lost the plot" for suggesting including Mr Mallah on live television was similar to allowing him to walk freely through a shopping centre.

A review by the Communications Department is due tomorrow.

Mr Turnbull has continued to pressure the ABC, making it clear he expects there to be "consequences" for Q&A's decision.

"Many other organisations would have made a response a lot earlier than this," Mr Turnbull said.

Q&A error 'requires more than an expression of regret'

Mr Tudge said the ABC had made an "appalling" decision, and it was not appropriate to go on the show while a formal government review was underway.

He accused the ABC of giving Mr Mallah a "taxpayer-funded megaphone, live and unvetoed, with a million people listening".

"If a man called for the public gang rape of two prominent women, what would be your response? Revulsion? Outrage?" Mr Tudge said, referring to a violent tweet sent by Mr Mallah before he appeared on Q&A.

"A mistake of this magnitude and seriousness requires more than an expression of regret, a weak justification from the managing director and silence from the board."

Mr Tudge has not ruled out appearing on Q&A in the future.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton have both called for "heads to roll" at the national broadcaster.

When asked his view on this, Mr Turnbull did not repeat the language.

"I will decide what metaphors I use and the manner in which I use them," he said.

Last week the ABC's managing director Mark Scott conceded it was a mistake to include a man like Mr Mallah in a live studio audience, but defended the decision to allow his views to be heard.

Topics: federal-government, abc, terrorism, liberals, australia

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