‘Not getting anywhere’: Hamish cuts Price off during ugly fight

A discussion on The Project has ended abruptly with Hamish Macdonald cutting off Steve Price after the live TV segment turned into an argument.

A live TV discussion has come to an abrupt end on The Project after Hamish Macdonald cut off Steve Price during a heated argument.

Tensions ran high on the Channel 10 show’s panel as they discussed the Federal Government’s plans to introduce a bill to offer LGBTI students greater protection in schools.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has proposed a conscience vote on the bill, an idea which has been rejected by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who has accused the Prime Minister of “weaponising” the issue.

The proposed changes would prohibit any schools from discriminating against students on the basis of their sexuality or gender.

Steve Price argued that new laws weren’t needed because discrimination wasn’t happening in schools

But critics of the bill have argued it could infringe on religious freedom, or wasn’t needed — something Price argued was the case on Wednesday night’s episode of The Project.

“As far as I can work out and as far as I have been able to find, there’s not been one case of discrimination against a student because of their sexuality,” Price said.

“And no teacher in an Australian private school has been sacked because they identify as being gay, now …”

But before he could continue Macdonald interrupted, asking: “Then Pricey why do we need that enshrined in law? And why is it such a problem to take that out of the law?”

“I don’t think we need to change it,” Price replied, drawing a shocked reaction from Macdonald.

“I think the situation is working as it is right now I mean you haven’t had …”

Hamish Macdonald interrupted Price several times during the heated discussion

But before he could continue Macdonald interrupted him again, saying Price’s point that no-one wanted discrimination meant there was a need for protection laws.

Price didn’t take too kindly to being cut off again, muttering sarcastically: “Sorry to interrupt while you’re speaking Hamish.”

Gorgi Coghlan jumped in next, asking Price whether he was concerned about religious private schools potentially making gay students undergo conversion therapy, prompting this heated exchange.

Scott Morrison has proposed a conscience vote on the issue. Picture: Kym Smith

Price: “No one’s doing that, what school in Australia has done that?”

Coghlan: “The point is Pricey if you allow them to have …”

Price: “What school in Australia has done it?”

Coghlan: “Pricey it doesn’t matter, it’s allowing them the right to do it!”

Price: “No one wants to do it! They’re all on the record saying they don’t want to do it!”

Coghlan: “Then why can’t we change the laws so no one can do it?”

Price: “Why change a law that’s working?”

Macdonald: “Because the Prime Minister promised, and he promised he would do it by Christmas and he hasn’t.”

Price: “No, and now he’s said we can have a conscience vote in the Parliament and every politician can vote with their conscience, what’s the problem with that?”

Gorgi Coghlan also clashed with Steve Price over the issue

At this point Macdonald cut Price off and abruptly ended the segment, explaining to the audience: “We’re not getting anywhere, I don’t know why we’re doing this. Pricey, thank you.”

“I think it’s important too, to listen,” Coghlan also added. “Imagine what it’s like for LGBTQI people and families watching this segment knowing it’s something that can still be enabled in the meantime.”

Macdonald’s decision to cut Price off divided viewers on Twitter, with some applauding his decision to pull the plug on the segment while others said the radio host should be allowed to have his say.

How’s #TheProjectTV host cutting of Steve Price because his view where different to that of the hosts!

— big little (@AlexHassett5) December 5, 2018

I think they cut him off because he couldn’t make a coherent argument. The interview became pointless. Not good for the show.

— Peter Guley (@peteguley) December 5, 2018

Not anything to do with the actual story, but I think it's a bit rich for Pricey to complain about being interrupted by Hamish but then interrupts Gorgi in the very next question. #TheProjectTV

— '𝔎. 𝔘𝔰𝔰𝔥𝔢𝔯' 𝔮𝔲𝔬𝔱𝔥 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔯𝔞𝔳𝔢𝔫 (@KeiraUssher) December 5, 2018

That shutdown #theprojecttv pic.twitter.com/IkiZJXR4ib

— Kirri (@matineeidyll) December 5, 2018

@theprojecttv Pricey, I’m actually disgusted. Thank you for cutting that off @hamishNews #TheProjectTV #LGBTQIhumanrights

— Mhari Lewis (@Miss_Mhari) December 5, 2018

— The Project airs at 6.30pm Sunday to Friday on Network 10.