“Just sit down”: Tony Jones silences climate change protester
A climate change protester was taken out of ABC’s Q&A studio after interrupting the show.
Q&A’s Monday night episode was filmed in Perth, with the panel consisting of The West Australian political editor Lanai Scarr, people’s panellist Dylan Storer, human rights lawyer Hannah McGlade, Labor MP Anne Aly and Liberal MP Zak Kirkup.
Host Tony Jones was throwing to audience member Ryan Small to ask a question to the panel when another man in the audience stood up and started speaking. The man was wearing a shirt with the logo of climate change activist group Extinction Rebellion.
“Thanks Tony for coming across to Western Australia, we really appreciate you coming over here,” the man said.
Jones cut him off, saying, “OK, that is not Ryan. You are not here asking a question. You have just jumped up interrupting the questioner. So please if you wouldn’t mind, just sit down.”
The man continued to speak, mentioning “religious freedom”, “fire chiefs” and “climate change” as Jones told him that no one could hear him.
“It is pointless. It’s pointless. We can’t hear you. There’s no microphone,” the host said.
Security then attempted to escort the protester out of the venue. “You’re hurting me! Let me go,” the protester yelled.
The sound of yelling could be heard in the background as Jones attempted to get the show back on track and requested the original audience member to ask his question.
The protester later identified himself as Colin Hughes on Twitter. “Here is the question I submitted but was not allowed to ask,” he wrote on a post, which included a video of him speaking.
@QandA Here us the question I submitted but was not allowed to ask #Ifnotnowwhen ? @DoctorsXr @XRebellionWA #QandA pic.twitter.com/dAQZUwj3Jp
— Colin Hughes (@drcwhos) November 18, 2019
“If not now, when will the Australian politicians in both state and federal, join over 400 other local governments, state governments and national governments to declare a climate emergency?”
Extinction Rebellion is a global environmental movement aiming to “halt mass extinction and minimise the risk of social collapse”, according to its website.