Aussie TV show’s crude Abbott tweet

The crude tweet appeared during a conversation over the role of biographers – with one Liberal MP wasting no time to call it out. The crude message was in the Twitter handle, not the tweet itself. The tweet had appeared while host Annabel Crabb was speaking, and she laughed it off.

The account in question Tweeted out speculating about Abbott’s sexual preferences was all in the name of “democracy”, while Zaky Mallah, himself no stranger to Q&A shitstorms, chimed in to congratulate the account holder, calling him “a friend of mine”.

He described the latest incident as “a Groundhog Day moment yet again”, a reference to the Mallah broadcast. An ABC spokesman told the Australian newspaper it handled a very large volume of tweets during its live Q&A broadcasts. “Last night’s program contained a vibrant discussion on a range of topics and featured some lively Twitter exchanges”.

He said he hoped ABC management would take action to impose tighter control of the program.

“I am assured by Mr Scott the offensive tweet will not appear in the replays of the program”.

Zaky Mallah, who was the first Australian arrested under anti-terror laws in 2003, was allowed to join the show’s audience in June and ask questions of the panel.

The blunder prompted ABC managing director Mark Scott to send a personal apology via text message to Mr Abbott, saying he regretted any offence caused.

Mr Abbott later told reporters he had not had a chance to respond to the apology but said the programme was “a bit out of control”.

“The ABC should apologise to the Prime Minister and its viewers”.

“The tweet should obviously never have been put on the screen and the fact that it was underlines the need for better supervision of the program”.

Federal member for Lindsay, Fiona Scott shared a screen capture of the mistake and said “what a disgraceful Twitter handle for Q&A to broadcast!”

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Others were not as supportive, with many believing that “heads will roll” at the ABC following the obvious mistake.