Joe Hildebrand and Jessica Rowe clash on Studio 10: ‘Don’t be a smartarse!’

ITA Buttrose was forced to step in as things got heated between Joe Hildebrand and Jess Rowe during a fiery debate.

ITA Buttrose was forced to step in as tensions flared between Joe Hildebrand and Jess Rowe on Studio 10 this morning.

The pair butted heads during a debate about Greens Senator Larissa Waters, who resigned on Tuesday after confirmation she was a citizen of Canada — a country where she spent the first 11 months of her life, but hasn’t ever returned to.

Under section 44 of the constitution, anyone elected to the Australian Parliament must only be a citizen of Australia.

Rowe, who revealed on the Channel 10 morning show that she is a Greens supporter, defended Larissa Waters: “I think she’s a terrific Senator and she’s done a lot of good”.

“What has she done exactly?” Joe Hildebrand asked.

It quickly became clear that Rowe was the only panel member that felt for Waters, with guest co-host Steve Price and Ita Buttrose also chastising the Senator for making such a simple mistake in regards to her nationality.

But Rowe stuck to her guns.

“She made a mistake and I think it’s our loss that she’s no longer in the parliament,” she said.

And that’s when things got tense.

Ita Buttrose’s facial expression perfectly sums up the awkwardness.

Steve Price: “Why? What’s she done, apart from breastfeed her baby in the senate?”

Jessica Rowe: “But you say that in a very patronising way, Steve.”

Joe Hildebrand: “But what has she done?”

Jessica Rowe: “Again, Joe, don’t be a smartarse!”

(Cue gasps from the studio audience)

Joe Hildebrand: “All we’re asking is what has she done? You said she’s done a lot. Just tell us what she’s done instead of attacking the question.”

Jessica Rowe: “Sometimes it’s very difficult to respond to a question when you sound like you’re an expert on everything.”

(Cue even more gasps from the studio audience)

Joe Hildebrand: “OK, I’m not saying anything. Just tell me what she’s done that you think is wonderful.”

Jessica Rowe: “There’s a whole lot of different views and sure, people believe in what you say, but then there are other views and sometimes it can be difficult to be a different voice.”

It was left to Ita Buttrose to put an end to the back-and-forth bickering between the two co-hosts, the media veteran suggesting they all have a singalong together to ease the tension.

Buttrose launched into a rendition of 10 green bottles hanging on the wall but tweaked the lyrics to, “10 Green MP’s sitting on the wall ...”

Nice save, Ita.