Quadrant issues apology to ABC over ‘sick, unhinged’ article

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield sides with Michelle Guthrie over Manchester bomb column | WATCH

Quadrant magazine today “unreservedly apologised” to ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie for an online article that suggested it would have been better off if the Manchester terrorist had bombed the public broadcaster’s Sydney headquarters.

The magazine’s editor in chief, Keith Windschuttle, responded to Ms Guthrie late today in a letter agreeing the “intemperate wording” in the article was a “serious error of judgment and should not have been published”.

The article will be withdraw from the magazine’s website, he said.

“Even though I do not share all of the interpretations expressed in your letter, I accept your assurance about the offence it caused you and your staff. You have my unreserved apology for any concerns it might have given you,” Mr Windschuttle wrote.

Earlier, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield blasted Quadrant for its “sick and unhinged” comments about the ABC after contained in the article.

Senator Fifield told a budget estimates hearing that as the minister responsible for the ABC he wanted to make it clear the article “constitutes a new low in Australian public debate”.

CHRIS KENNY: Quadrant went too far in wishing violence upon the ABC. But that does not excuse the national broadcaster of its greatest failing.

ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie demanded an apology and the removal of the article from the Quadrant website saying how it would have been better if the Manchester bombing took place in the Q & A studio.

“The managing director of the ABC has written to the editor of Quadrant, John O’Sullivan and the editor of Quadrant online, Roger Franklin, making clear her views on behalf of the organisation,” Senator Fifield said. “And in the letter to Quadrant she says and I quote “I ask that this letter be posted prominently on the Quadrant website, but I also ask that the article, which continues to contain entirely inappropriate comments about possible bombings at the ABC be removed and apologised for.”

“I am certain that I speak on behalf of all my colleagues here at the Committee in condemning what Quadrant has posted online. We can all disagree with what particular media outlets do and say. That is appropriate in a democracy. But the comments by Quadrant are sick and unhinged.”

In an opinion piece posted on the conservative publication’s website last night, online editor Roger Franklin wrote “had there been a shred of justice’’ the Manchester bomber would have blown up Monday’s night’s Q & A panel.

“This morning, mere hours after (host Tony) Jones’ guests pocketed their ABC taxi vouchers and repaired to hotel rooms paid for with taxpayer dollars processed through the Sydney Writers’ Festival, mere children were torn to pieces on the other side of the world,” Franklin wrote.

“Life isn’t fair and death less so. Had there been a shred of justice, that blast would have detonated in an Ultimo TV studio. Unlike those young girls in Manchester, their lives snuffed out before they could begin, none of the panel’s likely casualties would have represented the slightest reduction in humanity’s intelligence, decency, empathy or honesty.’’

An amended version of the paragraph now appears on the website saying: “Life isn’t fair and death less so. What if that blast had detonated in an Ultimo TV studio? ...’’

In a statement this morning, Ms Guthrie condemned Quadrant describing the article as “vicious and offensive’’.

“Quadrant promotes itself as ‘the leading general intellectual journal of ideas’. Those words ring hollow in the wake of last night’s vicious and offensive attack on the ABC, its staff and its program guests,’’ said Ms Guthrie.

“To take issue with our programming and our content is one thing. But to express the wish that, if there were any justice, the horrific terrorist bombing in Manchester would have taken place in the ABC’s Ultimo studio and killed those assembled there is a new low in Australian public debate.’’

Ms Guthrie said Franklin’s “subsequent attempt to make amends by changing some of the wording (without acknowledging or apologising for the original article) has done little to undo the damage’’.

“The article continues to state that if a blast occurred in one of our studios, none of the likely casualties ‘would have represented the slightest reduction in humanity’s intelligence, decency, empathy or honesty’.

“Like many others, I am appalled at your willingness to turn an act of terrorism in the United Kingdom into a means of making a political point against those you disagree with. One of the immediate results of this behaviour is that while our staff both here and in Manchester were working long hours to provide extensive coverage of this unfolding tragedy, we were also forced to reassure worried staff who had read your article and call in our own security experts to assess any possible impact flowing from your inflammatory words.

“I ask that this response be posted prominently on the Quadrant website, and I also ask that the article, which continues to contain entirely inappropriate comments about possible bombings at the ABC, be removed and apologised for.’’

Michelle Guthrie's response to Quadrant.

Fairfax Media reports that the Australian Federal Police have been notified about Franklin comments and that security is expected to be tightened during the program’s next episode, which is to be held at Parliament House.

In his article Franklin attacked Q & A panellist Lawrence Krauss for his suggestion that Americans were more likely to be killed by a refrigerator falling on them than terrorism.

“Tumbling refrigerators are a bigger hazard than Islamic terrorism? God Almighty but that Krauss is a filthy liar,’’ Franklin wrote (watch Krauss’ comments in the video below from the two minute, 45 second mark).

What do you think has the largest probability to end the greatest story, that we know of, so far? @LKrauss1 @MonaChalabi & #QandA panel pic.twitter.com/vMAjlrKxW4

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) May 22, 2017

“What, Kelvinators killed more people than died in San Bernardino, where a Muslim couple turned on workmates who had just thrown them a baby shower, gunning them down at their desks? What, falling Frigidaires claimed more lives than a Muslim gunman methodically executing homosexuals in an Orlando nightclub?

“This was a moment when Jones really should have interrupted, asked Krauss if he lies about everything, not just when reality and circumstance intrude on favoured pieties. But of course Jones was silent. It’s a monstrously absurd and obscene self-evident untruth to claim that refrigerators are more dangerous than terrorists, but it fits with the approved narrative, so not a peep from the man who is paid by the national broadcaster to promote fair, free, frank and factual debate on matters of national importance.’’

Franklin continued: “Mind you, as Krauss felt his body being penetrated by the Prophet’s shrapnel of nuts, bolts and nails, those goitered eyes might in their last glimmering have caught a glimpse of vindication.

“A blast of Manchester dimensions must surely knock over the studio’s lunchroom refrigerator. Allah only knows how many innocent lives that shocking incident might claim.’’

In addition to Krauss, Monday night’s panel included journalist Niki Savva, Russian writer Mikhail Zygar, US journalist Mona Chalabi and American author Paul Beatty.

With Stephen Brook and Rosie Lewis