Government taking ABC debate to 'hysterical levels of stridency'

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said today that the Abbott Government should cease using Monday night's episode of Q&A to further his government's attack on the ABC and public broadcasting.

"The discussion about the editorial decisions made by the ABC is now being wound up to hysterical levels of stridency by the Abbott Government," Senator Ludlam said today.

"The ABC has apologised and will conduct a review. That is a proper process.

"The Abbott Government reaction has been to magnify this issue beyond any reasonable proportion and I find it impossible to believe that an Abbott-ordered inquiry into the public broadcaster will be anything other than a politically-charged witch hunt.

"The Prime Minister's language today, including the comment that 'heads should roll' is tasteless, degrading rhetoric designed to weaken the public broadcaster and step-up the Government's high-pitched flag-based fear mongering.

"The Greens support an internal ABC review and believe this process should be allowed to run its course without further shrieks of outrage from the Prime Minister," Senator Ludlam concluded.