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Labor leader Bill Shorten has leapt to the defence of the national broadcaster, declaring the ABC is "not a propaganda arm of government" but condemning the appearance of Zaky Mallah on the Q&A program this week.
As cabinet ministers Peter Dutton and Christopher Pyne lined up behind Tony Abbott to criticise the national broadcaster, fall out from Monday night's controversial episode grew.
Mr Abbott said on Thursday that "heads should roll" at the broadcaster and announced a government inquiry, but ABC managing director Mark Scott fired back, declaring he runs a "public broadcaster, not a state broadcaster".
Mr Scott acknowledged it was a mistake to allow Mr Mallah, a former terror suspect, to appear live on air, but defended the high-rating program.
Mr Shorten said that Q&A had got it wrong by allowing Mr Mallah - who confronted junior minister Steve Ciobo on live TV about the government's proposed changes to citizenship laws.
"That was a mistake, no ifs, no buts. I do wonder why some of the other networks are also giving this fellow air time. If it was wrong to do it on the ABC, I'm not sure what the case is to give him further platforms. But beyond that, the ABC is independent of government. It is not a propaganda arm of government," he said.
"Whilst I think it is right to be critical of the Q&A audience proposals and who they put in the audience I am not satisfied that it warrants the full-on attack against the independence of the ABC."
Asked if "head should roll" as Mr Abbott said, Mr Shorten responded: "Most Australians know that Tony Abbott overreached with those sort of sentiments. I think if he had his time again Mr Abbott wouldn't use such clumsy language."
But Mr Dutton said on Friday that he endorsed "the words of the Prime Minister that heads should roll because it was an inappropriate use of taxpayers' money".
"Q&A clearly have lost the plot and something needs to happen and it needs to happen quickly."
And Mr Pyne accused Mr Scott of trying to "change the debate to something it isn't".
"The ABC is trying to pretend this is something to do with free speech. It isn't. It's about what's appropriate and not appropriate at the public broadcaster."
However, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull would not back the Prime Minister's choice of words when pushed in an interview on the ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday night, telling host Leigh Sales: "I will decide what metaphors I use and the manner in which I use them."
And Liberal Party pollster Mark Textor also weighed into the debate on social media, stating: "Q&A made a big mistake. We've all made them. Key is that same mistake is not repeated. But most know the ABC remains a good thing for Oz. Other than that, move on."
