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Q&A: Ray Martin suggests ranters take “A Bex and a good lie down.”

"It's clearly a political issue at the moment," says Ray Martin, who brands the PM's ban on Q&A as "silly."

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Ray Martin has given an early indication of his position regarding Q & A, ahead of an audit of the show he is conducting with former SBS boss Shaun Brown.

Appearing this morning on Sunrise, Martin was asked for his thoughts on the ABC saga.

“I thought it was time for a bit of balance with all the rants and raves about that thing, so it was time to have a look what it was all about,” he told Sunrise.

“I can’t imagine Australia without the ABC, so I’ve got a lot of time (for them). That doesn’t mean they can’t be better.

“It’s clearly a political issue at the moment, in terms of terror. I think we’ve already started looking towards the next election.”

Asked for his thoughts on Zaky Mallah asking a question on the show two weeks ago he told Sam Armytage he thought it was a mistake.

“It was a mistake to have him there but the rest I will sort of wait and see. We’re looking back at the last 22 programmes. I’d like to see what happened (they year before last year) with a Labor government. I suspect Tony Jones was just as tough on the Labor government as he has been on the Coalition right now.

“I think a Bex and a good lie down might help at the moment.”

And on the question of Tony Abbott banning frontbenchers from appearing, Martin said, “Barnaby Joyce should have said ‘Look, I’m not a member of the Liberal Party, I’m a member of the National Party, I can do what I like,’ and go and do it.”

Q & A has been useful for politicians’ profiles including Christopher Pyne and Malcolm Tunbull, Martin said, but on the question of Turnbull’s planned appearance next week he doubted the Minister would break ranks.

“I suspect he won’t come. I think it’s silly.”

10 Responses

  1. Tony Abbott calls the ABC’s Q&A a “lefty lynch mob” and has instructed his cabinet ministers to boycott the program. He said he held Q&A in such contempt for inviting a former terror suspect on air that he doesn’t want to “advertise” the program by commenting on it. It wasn’t always this way. In 2008 Abbott was the program’s go-to Coalition MP. He loved the show and the show loved him. Abbott starred in the Q&A pilot and featured in eight episodes during the program’s first three seasons – more than any other panelist. “He was willing to go on just about every week and we seriously considered whether he should go on every week,” an ABC heavy from the time recalls.
    Tony Abbott appeared on Q&A eight times in just over two years while in opposition. Then there was an election.

    1. Hi Jason, Q&A has obviously evolved in the seven years it has been on air……however, Mallah was not just a “former terror suspect”, but he was charged with “making a threat to cause serious harm to a third party”, referring to the verbal threats made to the undercover officer. He was sentenced to two and a half years jail. In September 2005, his jail term was extended by 6 weeks for assaulting a prison officer.

      As for the “lefty lynch mob”…..of course it is….how else would you explain the Q&A audience applauding Mr Mallah when he was criticising the Government….mind you Q&A also drones on and on about gay marriage, the environment, etal….all the favorite subjects of the Greens…

      2. And he has served his time and deserves the right to the same freedoms the rest of have.

        His original question was fine. It was Ciobo’s childish and niggling response that drew the retort that has started all this trouble.

        No one should be “pleased” to strip someone of their human rights. Yes, it may be a necessity (but that is a discussion for another forum) but one should never be “pleased” of it.

        1. unclepete”No one should be “pleased” to strip someone of their human rights. Yes, it may be a necessity (but that is a discussion for another forum) but one should never be “pleased” of it.”

          what “human rights”? No one is saying he should be silenced, what they are saying is that the Q&A shouldn’t be busing him in, helping/editing/rewriting his question and picking him specifically because he could be the “gotcha” moment…..

          As for Ciobo response, Ciobo gave the answer Mallah deserved…..

          1. Oh geez. If you do not know what I am talking about with regards to human rights then you clearly didn’t watch the show. **rolls eyes**

            By the way, how do you know that Q&A helped/edited/rewrote etc. I have seen or read of no evidence of this. Please do not make BS up. This situation is already inflamed enough as it is.

  3. If its a choice between getting rid of the ABC or this government I choose the latter. Worst government ever. (with apologies to comic book guy).

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