I don't agree with the accusation that the Q&A
program is biased in its audience make-up.
They always give the audience make-up statistics
at the beginning of each program . At no time have
Labor voters outnumbered the Conservatives. It has
always been a very balanced mix - and I have been
watching the program for quite some time.

Also it should be noted that controversies have been
a part and parcel of the program. For example -
John Howard in 2010 solicited a video question from former
Guantanamo Bay detainee, David Hicks. Howard handled the
question brilliantly.

Then in 2011 - a video question from WikiLeaks founder
Julian Assange was directed to then Prime Minister
Julia Gillard.

None of them instructed their Ministers to boycott the program
or made a fuss such as the one Mr Abbott is currently doing.

As for Ray Martin's comments?

Mr Martin was chosen to conduct the audit of the ABC's
Q&A program because he is independent and the public perceive
him to be.

As one Liberal Senator commented - this doesn't mean that
he can't express an opinion. Mr Martin made it clear that his
final view will be shaped by an orderly audit of previous
programs. According to an article in The Age, Mr Martin's
comments related more to the boycott than the program itself.
(and everyone has an opinion on that).

The review is expected to take up to 3 months.

I think that Mr Martin is enough of a professional to realise
that his reputation is at stake here. Hopefully he will be
as objective as possible in this matter. I also believe that
he's not the only one conducting this particular review.

Fox, "They always give the audience make-up statistics at the beginning of each program"

What you fail to mention is that the preference is self reported. -The extent that the left will go to, eh?

Otherwise how can the obvious juvenile leftist leanings of the audience be explained during 'that' Q&A (linked to earlier) where Peter Hitchens was mobbed, negged and howled down by the panel and by the unruly, cat-calling, mob audience?

Totally and shamelessly one-sided, including the ABC's production team and host.

What about the loud audience cheering of Mallah? How can that be explained?

I don't know who or what Q&A audiences represent or reflect except juvenile leftists, more likely adolescent green left and Housos (probably the one and the same). Q&A audiences reflect Q&A audiences is about the best one can say.

Yes on the beach, there is little doubt the audience is stacked, it is
consistently leftish in attitude.
A few times could be a mistaken impression, but EVERY TIME !

No only the naive would believe that they take their bus to the RSL
clubs to pick up the audience.
Anyone know where their busses pick up the audience ?

//What you fail to mention is that the preference is self reported. -The extent that the left will go to, eh?//

So it's all just a big conspiracy then?

//What about the loud audience cheering of Mallah? How can that be explained?//

What about the deathly silence when he went too far and incited terrorism? Watch the clip; there are no claps for his childish statement about ISIS. How can that be explained?

Tony, the silence was because Mallah went a bridge too far.

I think that the applause was predominantly
for Mr Mallah's response to the Liberal Party MP's
tactless comment to Mr Mallah. To which Mr Mallah
replied that it was politicians like him that
made young Muslims join ISIS in the first place.
The audience were letting the MP know that his comments
were uncalled for. He could have used the opportunity
to actually answer the question that Mr Mallah had asked.

I did not watch Q&A the night that Peter Hitchens was
a guest. So I can't really comment on that evening.