Q&A host Hamish McDonald is blasted for staying silent during a bitter argument between a ‘mansplaining’ panellist and Sarah Hanson-Young over Australia’s use of fossil fuels

The host of ABC show Q&A has been accused of allowing a male panellist to ‘mock’ and ‘patronised’ a female senator.

Aramco director and former Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris clashed with Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young during a heated discussion about fossil fuels on Thursday night’s show. 

During the exchange Ms Hanson-Young called Mr Liveris ‘patronising’ while he accused her of ‘yelling’ at him during the debate, caused her party to criticise host Hamish McDonald for not speaking up in her defence. 

The host of ABC’s Q&A has been accused of staying silent while a male panellist was ‘mocking and patronising’ towards a female senator

The panel discussed Australia’s commitment to reducing climate change emissions following the announcement by the US that it wanted to halve its emissions by 2030.

During one exchange, Mr Liveris told Ms Hanson-Young: ‘Let me teach you a new term: “fossil feed stock”. 

‘Fossil feed stock is all of your modern life.’ 

‘If you want a chemistry lesson,’ he added, referring to the other panellists, ‘I’ll help you out the back.’

‘You’re so patronising, seriously,’ Ms Hanson-Young interjected.

When Mr Liversis disagreed, she said, ‘I’m not the one shaking my finger at people, mate.’

Mr Liveris then accused Ms Hanson-Young of yelling at him after host Hamish McDonald asked panellists to ‘try and keep it respectful.’ 

The Queensland Greens accused host Hamish McDonald of staying silent while Mr Liveris patronised the other panel members

Social media users watching the show and former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull accused Mr Liveris of ‘mansplaining’ 

Mr Liveris accused Ms Hanson-Young of ‘yelling’ at him after host Hamish McDonald asked panellists to ‘try and keep it respectful’

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull also accused Mr Liveris of ‘mansplaining’ him during a disagreement on how many jobs were provided by industries who use gas as feed stock.

‘I don’t mind you mansplaining me,’ Mr Turnbull said.

‘That’s a pretty cheap shot,’ Mr Liveris protested.

The Queensland Greens said Mr Liveris was ‘appalling’ and accused Hamish McDonald of staying silent.

‘Women should be able to appear on @QandA & speak without being spoken down to, interrupted, mocked, patronised, have a finger pointed at them and spoken over the top of,’ the party tweeted from an official account. 

Mr Liveris was described as ‘patronising, elitist and sneering’ by one social media user