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 staying silent while a male panellist was ‘mocked’ and ‘patronised’ a female senator.

Petrol company board member Andrew Liveris was alleged to have spoken over Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young during a heated discussion about fossil fuels on Thursday night’s show. 

Ms Hanson-Young called Mr Liveris ‘patronising’ while he accused her of ‘yelling’ at him during the debate. 

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 he would ‘teach’ her a ‘new term.’

‘Let me teach you a new term: fossil feed stock,’ Mr Liveris said to the Greens politician. 

‘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 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

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.

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’

The Queensland Greens said Mr Liveris was ‘appalling’ and accused Mr 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 & spoken over the top of,’ the party tweeted from an official account.

‘That was appalling behaviour from Andrew Liveris & disappointing to see it not called out by the host #qanda.’

Some people on Twitter accused the natural gas executive of being ‘appalling arrogant’ and ‘an unashamed smart arse.’

‘Liveris might be worst mansplainer I’ve ever seen,’ said one person.

‘Patronising, elitist and sneering. Mansplaining. Pointing his finger,’ another wrote.  

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