PM Abbott gives ABC ‘pat on the back’

On Thursday, the ABC said their board approved the change based on the show’s “editorial processes” saying “the program and the wider ABC would benefit by an orderly shift of Q&A into the ABC News Division”.

Mallah’s appearance led to Prime Minister Tony Abbott issuing a blanket ban on all government ministers and MPs from appearing on the program.

Mr Abbott imposed the ban after a convicted criminal and former terror suspect appeared on the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Abbott welcomed the move as “common sense” and said ministers would be able to appear on the show under the new controls.

“If that’s the most the leadership Mr Abbott and his Liberals have got to do, they need to take a good, long look at themselves”.

“Frontbenchers look forward to resuming their participation on Q&A once this moves take place”, he said in a letter on July 10.

Zaky Mallah in the Q&A audience.

“I’d rather give the ABC a bit of a pat on the back today, that’s what I’d like to do – give them a bit of a pat on the back for doing the right thing and I don’t want to talk about the length of time that management decisions might take”, he said.

Mr Abbott said once projects such as Adani’s fully comply with high environmental standards, they should be allowed to go ahead, and not face challenges.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Mr Abbott’s job should not include worrying about which division of the ABC Q&A sat in.

ABC Managing Director Mark Scott has confirmed the station’s Q&A program will be managed by the news and current affairs division, potentially paving the way for the government to end its boycott of the program.

The ABC admitted it was an error of judgment to allow Mr Mallah on the program. It also issued a formal warning to the show’s executive producer, Peter McEvoy.

Following a briefing by Shaun Brown and Ray Martin – who were tasked with reviewing the show – and from management, the board decided on the move.