As pressure mounts over ABC Q&A’s Zaky Mallah controversy whose head should roll?

TONY Abbott said “heads should roll” at the ABC after an urgent government inquiry was announced, and damning details of who knew of Zaky Mallah’s appearance were revealed.

AN urgent government inquiry will be held into the ABC’s decision to allow a convicted criminal to appear on Q&A after the program was re-broadcast.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters in Canberra today that “heads should roll” at the national broadcaster.

The ABC has admitted it made an error of judgment by allowing Zaky Mallah, jailed for threatening federal government officials in 2003, to participate in the live broadcast on Monday.

It initially ordered an internal review of the program, but allowed the program to be re-broadcast on Wednesday morning and made available on iView.

“Here we had the ABC admitting a gross error of judgment and then compounding that terrible mistake, that betrayal, if you like, of our country,” Mr Abbott said

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the departmental investigation, but rejected MPs’ calls for a government-wide boycott of the show.

The Australian revealed Defence Minister Kevin Andrews had refused to fill a vacancy on next Monday’s panel and would not join the program “until it becomes balanced”.

The news comes after News Corp Australia revealed five senior producers of the embattled ABC program Q&A had contact with Mallah prior to his appearance on the show.

And it appears that host Tony Jones had some knowledge of the specifics of the case against Mallah.

These revelations cast doubt on the public broadcaster’s insistence that it couldn’t have reasonably foreseen the disastrous chain of events that unfolded.

Serious questions ... the decision by ABC show Q&A to feature former terror suspect Zaky Mallah has landed the public broadcaster in hot water.

How Mallah was allowed to be part of the studio audience and picked to ask a question, after which he made his controversial remark that the Federal Government was pushing young Muslims to join terrorist group Islamic State, will now be the subject of an external review.

As a result, should the broadcaster consider sacking anyone for the decision — which the ABC has since described as “an error of judgment” — there are several potential scalps.

News Corp Australia can reveal that Mallah was briefed on Monday night before the show went to air by executive producer Peter McEvoy, who has helmed the show since 2008, according to a source in attendance.

Had contact ... it’s understood Q&A executive producer Peter McEvoy conducted a briefing with preselected questioners before Monday night’s show. Picture: Sam Mooy

In addition, Q&A’s floor manager, Hilary Firth, who has worked at the ABC for 25 years, also had some interaction with him, the source said.

Interacted act ... Q&A floor manager Hilary Firth is one of five show staffers to have had contact with Zaky Mallah before Monday night’s show.

Interacted act ... Q&A senior producer Christine El-Khoury is one of five show staffers to have had contact with Zaky Mallah before Monday night’s show.

Earlier that day, it’s believed producer Tara Thomas, who coordinates submitted questions from attendees, would’ve spoken to Mallah on the phone.

“You’re contacted and told you’ve been short-listed to ask your submitted question,” the source said.

During this process, a brief pre-show background check would’ve been conducted although it typically focuses only on political affiliation.

When Mallah arrived at the ABC’s Sydney studio, it’s understood he was met by Thomas and another senior producer, Christine El-Khoury, who joined the Q&A staff in 2010.

Interacted act ... Q&A audience producer Sandra Radice is one of five show staffers to have had contact with Zaky Mallah before Monday night’s show.

“You’re then given a copy of your question on a card ... they take you into the studio and go through the procedures and some housekeeping,” the source said.

A fifth staff member to have corresponded with Mallah was audience producer Sandra Radice, who has worked in TV for 17 years and is responsible for choosing Q&A audience members.

As the face of the program, Jones could also be in the firing line. A review of footage from Monday’s show also indicates that he had some knowledge of the details of Mallah’s case.

After his question, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Steve Ciobo said he wasn’t aware of the specifics of the man’s case.

Questions raised ... Tony Jones appears to have had some knowledge of Mallah’s case.

Jones then clarified that Mallah had “pleaded guilty (to making) death threats to Commonwealth officials ... and (was) convicted of that ...”.

There had been no prior reference to Mallah having pleaded guilty — just that he was charged and had later been acquitted.

In a statement, the ABC’s director of television Richard Finlayson said the nature of live TV meant it wasn’t possible for editorial review of the man’s controversial comments.

Under fire ... Richard Finlayson, Director of ABC TV, insists no one could’ve foreseen the chain of events that unfolded on Monday night. Some believe the warning signs were obvious.

But a source close to Mr Ciobo’s office believes such extensive, prior interaction between experienced and senior TV producers and the man should’ve raised red flags.

“It feels like a thoroughly planned stitch up that backfired,” the source said.

Stitch-up ... a source close to Liberal MP Steven Ciobo says there’s a feeling the minister was set up.

The ABC declined to respond to a long list of questions relating to this story.

Amid calls from some in the government for the show to be suspended, or even axed completely, the ABC also declined to confirm if next week’s episode will air as planned.

Under fire ... the ABC’s Q&A program is under increasing pressure over its decision to allow former terror suspect Zaky Mallah to appear on the show. Picture: Supplied