The invitation to be part of the studio audience and to put questions directly to panellists, particularly politicians, is a key attribute of the long-running current affairs discussion program. However, an ABC source, speaking on background because they were not authorised to comment publicly, said management had concerns about the feasibility of hosting a crowd for an episode dedicated to the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and Israel\u2019s bombardment of Gaza even before the protest on Friday.<\/p>\n
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The panel: Mark Leibler (left); Dave Sharma; Francesca Albanese; Tim Watts; and Nasser Mashni.<\/span>Credit: <\/span> <\/cite><\/p>\n But after a burger shop in Caulfield, owned by a prominent Palestinian activist, was burned down \u2013 prompting a pro-Palestine rally nearby, which was met by pro-Israel counterprotesters \u2013 ABC management determined the risk of a live audience outweighed the benefits.<\/p>\n Host Patricia Karvelas addressed the issue in her introduction to the show on Monday night. Noting that the \u201cdifficult and sensitive discussion\u201d would be conducted without a live audience, she said: \u201cWe believe in your right to ask questions, and that is a right we will always defend.\u201d<\/p>\n Hinting at the tensions between the ambitions of the show generally and the reality of this particular episode, she noted that questions had been submitted via video link, adding: \u201cWe will conduct a robust, healthy and respectful debate. Without hearing from each other, we are weaker.\u201d<\/p>\n A live studio audience has been a key element of the program since its launch in 2009, though COVID-19 did force it to move for a period to an audience-free model.<\/p>\n Host Patricia Karvelas addresses the unusual absence of a live studio audience.<\/span>Credit: <\/span> <\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cQ+A<\/em> provides a rare opportunity for Australian citizens to directly question and hold to account politicians and key opinion leaders in a national public forum,\u201d the show\u2019s website declares. \u201cQ+A<\/em> is broadcast live so that not only the studio audience but also the wider audience can get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n The significance of an episode being broadcast without a live audience in non-pandemic conditions was also addressed by panellist Tim Watts, the assistant minister for foreign affairs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s worth reflecting on where we\u2019re sitting now,\u201d he said late in the episode. \u201cThere\u2019s no audience out here. There\u2019s a very significant police contingent out the front of the public broadcaster in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that it was the first time that he had seen security deployed outside the broadcaster\u2019s offices in such a manner. \u201cIt\u2019s deeply concerning that this is the way we have to talk about this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n Noting that \u201cwhat happened in Caulfield was abhorrent and should never happen again\u201d, Watts said Australians from all backgrounds have \u201cgot to be able to have better conversations about things that we disagree on … we\u2019ve got to get better at listening, not just listening to get your next point for outrage \u2026 but listening with curiosity, not judgment. And this is something that I think we need to model as leaders, not just political leaders, but faith leaders, civil society leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n Though it marked an unwelcome departure from its own model, the absence of a live audience on Monday made little impact on the audience watching at home. Overnight figures from ratings agency OzTam show the program was watched by 209,000 viewers in the metro capital cities, and 298,000 nationally, in line with its performance over the last month or so.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n