Lidia Thorpe was described as the “queen of irrelevance” and Senator Murray Watt was called an “imbecile” on Monday’s quiz show.
ABC presenter Patricia Karvelas brought the show to Brisbane this week ahead of Saturday’s Queensland election, in which Labor is expected to lose power after 10 years in government.
On the panel were Queensland senators including Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt, Liberal Susan McDonald and the Greens’ Larissa Waters.
They were joined by political strategist Scott Emerson, a former LNP minister and now co-director of bipartisan consultancy firm GXO Strategies.
A major talking point on the program was Senator Thorpe’s fiery outburst that disrupted official proceedings during a reception with King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Parliament early on Monday, generating global headlines.
Senator Watt said his actions were unfortunate, but it was something he saw every week in the Senate.
—She and Pauline Hanson, the other one is from Queensland, and not a week goes by without the two of them clashing, disturbing the Senate who tries to bluff, and for what? Senator Watt said.
“I was in the room when it happened and I didn’t realize until this very moment that this was the issue she was raising today.
“I don’t think the message got through to anyone in the room.”
He was interrupted and a man in the audience shouted: ‘We’re fucking talking about it now!’
A member of the question and answer audience left Labor senator Murray Watt (pictured) shocked after calling him an ‘imbecile’ for his comments against colleague Lidia Thorpe.
Senator Watt was shocked by the comment.
“Thank you for your comments,” he responded as host Patricia Karvelas quickly changed the subject.
“Okay, we’re not going to do that,” he told the audience member firmly.
Mr Emerson told the audience that Senator Thorpe was the “queen of irrelevance”.
“Every time he gets coverage it’s only because he’s yelling at someone,” he said.
‘She should have done what Larissa Waters did. If she didn’t support the monarchy, she didn’t want to be there, don’t come.
“Every time I see Lidia Thorpe, she’s yelling at someone.”
Daniel, a Guren Gureng man from the Bundaberg region of Queensland, brought up Senator Thorpe’s protest by asking the panellists if they supported the return of Aboriginal remains and artefacts found in the UK.
Watt said Thorpe’s (pictured) explosive boos of King Charles on Monday did not reach “anyone in the room” before the audience member made the comment.
Host Patricia Karvelas (left) said the comment would not be tolerated before the conversation continued.
He said Senator Thorpe’s message was an important issue that still affects indigenous Australians.
“We are talking about 200 years of pain that remain without response or solution,” he said.
“The monarchy, the United Kingdom and the Australian government are all part of this Commonwealth and we are in a position to deliver this change and achieve true reconciliation for Australians.”
Host Patricia Karvelas said the comment would not be tolerated.