ABC rejects calls to sack Yassmin Abdel-Magied
ABC stands by Q&A panel as petition calls for it to act on remove Yassmin Abdel-Magied.
- Published by David Knox
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ABC has defended the inclusion of Q&A panelist Yassmin Abdel-Magied following an online petition calling on the ABC to “publicly condemn and fire” her, following her fiery defence -and explanation- of Sharia Law to Senator Jacqui Lambie last week.
So far the petition has over 27,000 signatures calling for her to be removed from the public broadcaster. Abdel-Magied is also a presenter on ABC News 24’s Australia Wide.
In a statement ABC said: “In addition to her ABC role, Yassmin Abdel-Magied engages in a number of other activities in her capacity as a writer, commentator and engineer. We stand by her right to appear on Q&A and share with the wider community her personal views in this capacity.
“As the ABC stated last week: ‘Q&A is designed to provide a forum for opposing viewpoints to be robustly discussed and debated. Some viewpoints aired may challenge the audience some of the time, especially when controversial and emotive issues are being discussed, but Q&A never sets out to gratuitously offend.'”
Meanwhile Q&A is under further attack for its content with a Fairfax opinion piece suggesting it is driven by “gotcha” moments.
“The format is too predictable to the point of being banal. Instead of including guests discussing matters they are interested in and have unique perspectives on, the composition of the panel begins with at least two political representatives. They are clearly charged with a solemn duty – to uphold, at all costs and in the face of any evidence to the contrary, their party line,” writes Duncan Fine.
“Other panellists are chosen to provide the maximum amount of heat and the minimum amount of light. On Monday night, Julian Burnside and Piers Akerman could hardly be expected to have an illuminating discussion. Nor Jacqui Lambie and Yassmin Abdel-Magied.”
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- Tagged with Australia Wide, Q&A
7 Responses
I thought Q&A participants were ‘invited guests’ and not paid commentators which is what is implied by Jassmin being sacked, perhaps this whole Q&A show should be reviewed if that’s the case, paid political commentary is not a good look for a tax funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation .
As the story indicates she has other ABC roles.
I would dearly love to know how many of the 27,000 signatories to the petition actually watched Q&A or if they just angrily stomped off to sign because someone on Facebook told them to?
Even Tony Abbott said this women must of been blindfolded when she went to these countries at the tax payers expense.
No doubt this petition has been organized by anti-Islam supporters. I was more offended by Senator Lambies shouting and uneducated views on the subject.
Q&A stopped being relevant after the 2013 election, a once great must watch programme became WWE for the few that actually still care/follow politics – 100% agree, it is now a headline chaser – shame ABC shame
I thoroughly enjoy watching this young woman on TV….she is smart, intelligent, well informed…..I do not watch Q&A a lot …but did watch this one…and I could see that she spoke nothing but the truth…on a subject she is knowledgeable about…..
I suspect the petition may be the same people who flood the internet and Facebook food sites with their opinions….Some people do not want discussion …they just want to hear …what they want to hear…..*sad*