Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the ABC made a "grave error of judgment" by allowing former terrorism suspect Zaky Mallah to appear on its panel show Q&A.
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And Prime Minister Tony Abbott has gone further in the government's criticism of the ABC program, telling the Coalition party room that Q&A was a "lefty lynch mob" and that the government would look to do something about it.
In move designed to quell rising anger among Coalition MPs about the program, Mr Turnbull told his colleagues in the party room that an external review of the program was already under way.
Mr Turnbull said the program was aware of who Mr Mallah was before appearing on the program as he had submitted a question before appearing on the show.
Asking a question as an audience member on Q&A on Monday night, Mr Mallah complained that under new counter-terror laws the federal government is proposing, he could have had his citizenship stripped.
Queensland Liberal and panel member Steve Ciobo was unapologetic, saying he believed the only reason Mr Mallah was acquitted of terrorism was that the terrorist offences "weren't retrospective in application", and that he would be glad to see Mr Mallah sent out of the country.
Stunning many ABC viewers, Mr Mallah then said that sort of comment was why young Muslims would feel justified in travelling to banned areas of Syria and Iraq and taking up arms with Islamic State.
"The Liberals have just justified to many Australian Muslims in the community tonight to leave and go to Syria and join ISIL because of ministers like him," he said.
Mr Turnbull said he had contacted the ABC's chief executive Mark Scott, host Tony Jones and chairman Jim Spigelman about the incident.
"Both because of the things he might say ... and also from a simple, physical security point of view."
Mallah was charged under counter-terror laws introduced by the former Howard government but acquitted. He was, however, jailed in 2005 for threatening to kill ASIO and Department of Foreign Affairs staff, and in 2012 travelled to Syria during the Arab spring uprisings.
Mr Turnbull said he understood that Mr Mallah had nominated a question ahead of time and "there was clearly an awareness on the part of Q&A of who he was, what his background was and that should have raised issues both about the propriety of having him in a live audience, both from the point of view of what he might say but also in terms of physical security".
"That's why I've said to the ABC chairman that in conducting this review I would encourage the ABC board to contact and consult with the Australian Federal Police.
"I am concerned there has been inadequate attention to issues of physical security in assembling these studio audiences for Q&A."
On Tuesday, the ABC's director of television Richard Finlayson issued a statement acknowledging allowing Mr Mallah to join the audience and ask a question was an "error of judgment" but pointed out the inherent risks involved with live television.
"The environment of a live television broadcast, however, meant it would not be possible for editorial review of the comments he might make prior to broadcast, particularly if he engaged in debate beyond his prepared question," he said.
"[Host] Tony Jones correctly and immediately ruled a statement made by Mr Mallah as out of order."
