Abdel-Magied under pressure on DFAT role

Julie Bishop will “carefully consider” demands for Yassmin Abdel-Magied to be dismissed from an advisory board.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has declared Yassmin Abdel-Magied, a part-time ABC presenter, should not “be paid anything from the federal government” amid pressure on the national broadcaster to sack her.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will “carefully consider” conservative backbencher Eric Abetz’s demands for Yassmin Abdel-Magied to be dismissed from a government advisory board following her controversial Anzac Day post.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has also declared Abdel-Magied, a part-time ABC presenter, should not “be paid anything from the federal government” amid pressure on the national broadcaster to sack her.

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Government MPs, including the Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, have urged the public broadcaster to take action against her after she was attacked by both major parties for posting on Anzac Day: “LEST. WE. FORGET. (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine…).”

She removed the Facebook post following fierce online criticism and issued a brief apology.

Senator Abetz wrote to Ms Bishop asking that Abdel-Magied be dropped as a board member of the Council for Australian-Arab Relations, run by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, saying she was “unfit and lacked the judgement” for the role.

The Council for Australian-Arab Relations “seeks to strengthen” connections, the DFAT website says, “by advancing areas of shared political, economic and social interest”.

Mr Dutton said the ABC’s management had to be questioned for “tolerating” her post but the advisory position was a matter for Ms Bishop.

“It’s an issue for the Foreign Affairs Minister and perhaps the role she’s performing that she’s being paid for, DFAT believe that’s valuable. My experience of having observed this particular individual as I say pains me to talk about it because she is just seeking publicity and unfortunately we’re giving it to her,” Mr Dutton told 2GB radio.

“We just need to call out the comments that she’s expressed on what is the most sacrosanct day of the Australian calendar.

“I don’t understand how the ABC can continue to justify the long line of these people that they employ, that they engage. They can question the government, the fourth estate, it’s an important part of our democracy, media has a very important role to play, but when these journalists turn themselves into advocates and players and political operatives, then I think they shouldn’t be doing that on taxpayers’ dime and I think that’s something the ABC needs to answer for.”

The ABC has distanced itself from Abdel-Magied’s post, saying her opinions outside her work at the broadcaster were her own and did not represent the organisation, but her decision to delete and apologise for the comment was “appropriate”.

Ms Bishop’s spokeswoman said: “The Foreign Minister will respond to Senator Abetz’s letter in due course after careful consideration.”

Senator Abetz said the Minister “may terminate the appointment of a member of the board at any time by notice in writing”.