Federal shadow minister for communications David Coleman says the ABC has itself made the case for accepting advertising and reducing the financial burden it places on taxpayers.

The NSW Liberal MP alleged that last night’s edition of Q&A had breached the national broadcaster’s charter by allowing one guest to prominently display personal political slogans. (main picture)

“This is an egregious, I repeat egregious breach of the ABC’s rules forbidding advertising,” he said.

“It’s completely hypocritical of the ABC and is further proof that the ABC should either accept ads to help it fund itself or be sold off to someone with a long track record in media ownership and management.

“I’m not naming names but the Sky’s the limit when it comes to considering those who might be the Right people capable of running a big media outfit, especially a News organisation,” he said.

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South Australian Senator Simon Birmingham has been forced to retract a statement he made in his capacity as shadow foreign minister after intervention by Opposition leader Peter Dutton.

Senator Birmingham had this morning made a public call for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to make a trip to the USA “as soon as possible” to meet President-elect Donald Trump.

Senator Birmingham said it would be in Australia’s interest for the meeting to occur because the Prime Minister and Mr Trump had never met personally.

But he quickly retracted his call when Mr Dutton rang him to point out that Senator Birmingham had blundered by forgoing the possible opportunity to once again label the PM as “Airbus Albo” if he did make such a visit.

“I don’t give a shit if it is in the nation’s interest,” Mr Dutton is reported to have told the Senator. “If we can score points off such a visit we should put that ahead of any woke namby-pamby lefty sentiments about the national interest.”

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A snap Newspoll has found a significant leap in public approval of prominent federal Opposition frontbencher Michaelia Cash.

The survey showed the WA Senator’s net approval rating skyrocketing from minus-78% to a record positive 98%.

A Newspoll spokesperson said the results needed to be read with caution as they were not only subject to the standard 3% margin of error but the poll itself was taken at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Perth at 11am yesterday.

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