By ANEEKA SIMONIS
ANTI-TERROR MP Jason Wood has condemned ABC’s Q&A program for giving a convicted criminal the opportunity to “brainwash” other young people to join forces with Islamic State (IS) in Syria.
Former terrorism suspect Zaky Mallah, who was invited to appear on the live program on Monday 22 June, accused the Coalition MP Steve Ciobo of giving Australian Muslims a reason to join Islamic State following an earlier discussion over government plans to strip citizenship from dual-national who go to fight overseas.
“The Liberals have just justified to many Australian Muslims in the community tonight to leave and go to Syria and join ISIL because of ministers like him.“
Mr Wood, a former member of Victoria Police’s Counter-Terrorism Unit, who is soon to launch a deradicalisation program in his seat of La Trobe, slammed the public broadcaster for its “disgraceful judgment” in giving Mr Mallah air time.
“This was absolutely dangerous and stupid,” he said.
“My concerns are that young people watching him may be potentially inspired to follow down his path.”
ABC television director Richard Finlayson said the talk-show is under external investigation following Mr Mallah’s controversial comments.
“The Q&A program made an error in judgement in allowing Zaky Mallah to join the audience and ask a question,” he wrote in a statement released on Tuesday 23 June.
“The circumstances of Mr Mallah’s appearance will be reviewed by the ABC.”
Mr Mallah was charged with terror related offences in 2003, acquitted in 2005 but served a two-and-a-half year jail term for threatening to kill Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) officers.
He was invited by Q&A to add to the debate surrounding the government’s plans to strip Australian citizenship.
Mr Wood said it was highly concerning that the audience applauded Mr Mallah’s remarks toward Mr Ciobo.
Mr Ciobo said he would be pleased to boot Mr Mallah “out of the country”.
“As an Australian I would be happy to see you out of this country,” Mr Mallah responded on the live program before the audience-wide applause.
Mr Wood said “there is something horribly wrong with their selection of audience if they clap after that”.
Since Mr Mallah’s comments went to air, his Twitter follows have swelled.
“I would pay to see that Minister dumped on #ISIS territory in Iraq” he tweeted after his appearance.
Mr Wood said his appearance on live television highlights the importance of deradicalisation programs for at risk-youth.
“It really highlights how important it is to get deradicalisation programs on the ground (to combat) young radicals trying to brainwash people,” he said.
Mr Wood is expected to launch MYHACK, a deradicalisation program targeting at-risk residents across his south-eastern electorate in the coming months.
He said he would not support the suspension of the Q&A program which helps debate “important national topics”, but suggested they did not “put anymore extremists” to air.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott also hit out at the ABC over the issue.
“What our national broadcaster has done is give a platform to a convicted criminal and terrorist sympathiser.
“They have given this individual – this disgraceful individual – a platform, and in so doing I believe the national broadcaster has badly let us down,” he said.
