Ray Martin and former SBS managing director Shaun Brown will audit the weekly program, following convicted criminal Zaky Mallah's appearance on the show more than a fortnight ago.
Speaking on Tony Abbott’s boycott of the show – which saw Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce pull out this week - Martin said it was “silly”.
"I just think it's so silly to do it," Martin told the Seven Network on Tuesday.
“…I thought the rants and raves were a bit crazy.”
Related reading
PM's Q&A boycott 'silly': reviewer
Martin's comments have since been criticised by Coalition senators James McGrath and Ian Macdonald.
Fairfax Media reported that Senator McGrath said Martin “should step aside”.
“His comments make him appear to be an apologist for Q&A rather than someone who will conduct an independent review,” he said.
Senator Macdonald reportedly stated that Martin’s comments “make you question whether he is the right person to conduct an independent review”.
"”I think he's probably disqualified himself from that role,” he said.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull is scheduled to appear on the Q&A program on Monday, but has not confirmed whether he will be withdrawing.
Share
