The ABC has apologised to Prime Minister Tony Abbott for an offensive tweet that was inadvertently broadcast on Monday night's Q&A program.
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In what Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described as a "Groundhog Day moment", the program suffered another mishap when a tweet with the handle @AbbottLovesAnal was broadcast to viewers.
The otherwise innocent tweet - "I prefer ones Twitter feed to their biographies" – was shown while panellists were discussing political memoirs.
The tweet has invited fresh criticism from government MPs, just two months after an inquiry into the program was launched after former terrorism suspect Zaky Mallah appeared in the audience to ask a question.
A spokesman for the ABC said managing director Mark Scott sent a text to the Prime Minister to apologise on Tuesday morning and a formal letter of apology would also be sent.
"Q&A has apologised to the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, this morning," a spokesman said.
"Q&A handles a very high volume of tweets during its live broadcast every week.
"Last night's program was no different and contained a vibrant discussion on a range of topics and featured some lively Twitter exchanges.
"This particular tweet was not published on purpose and the ABC regrets any offence caused."
The spokesman said the offending tweet would be removed from any rebroadcast of the program.
Asked whether he accepted the ABC's apology later on on Tuesday, Mr Abbott said he hadn't had a chance to respond to Mr Scott's text message yet after a busy morning visiting the Torres Strait.
"I just hope that the ABC management get on and do what they said they were going to do with that program," Mr Abbott told reporters.
"I think it is a bit out of control and I think it's important for the ABC not just to talk about tighter management structures, tighter management control on that particular program, but actually do it."
Mr Turnbull called Mr Scott early on Tuesday morning to demand an apology.
He said the tweet should not have been shown and Mr Scott had assured him it would not appear in any repeat broadcasts of the program.
"In what felt like a Groundhog Day moment yet again in the early hours of Tuesday I spoke with Mark Scott about another unedifying incident at Q&A," Mr Turnbull said.
"The tweet should obviously never have been put on the screen and the fact that it was underlines the need for better supervision of the program.
"I am assured by Mr Scott the offensive tweet will not appear in the replays of the program. The ABC should apologise to the PM and its viewers."
Q&A's use of live tweets is one of the issues being examined in an audit of the program, currently underway, being conducted by television veteran Ray Martin and former SBS managing director Shaun Brown. The auditors are examining whether the live tweets add or detract from the program and whether Q&A could make better use of social media.
An ABC spokesperson has previously said that "Q&A's on-screen tweets are selected through a multi-stage moderation process to provide an alternative layer around the studio discussion based on the commentary of viewers on Twitter".
The program remains under intense scrutiny from government, which has accused it of bias against the Liberal Party since the Mallah controversy.
Mr Mallah himself tweeted on Monday night that the user behind the tweet was a friend of his.
"The Abbott Loves Anal account is a friend of mine. I never thought he will make it after my fiasco loll. Great work mate," he wrote.
The author of the original tweet later replied he had no affiliation with Mr Mallah. "He wishes he knew me," he tweeted.
The offending account was only created on August 17.
In the past, Q&A executive producer Peter McEvoy has said offensive tweets have occasionally been put to air inadvertently.
In 2011 the ABC apologised to Education Minister Christopher Pyne for a tweet broadcast while he appeared on the show.
