Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has defied Prime Minister Tony Abbott's ban on frontbenchers appearing on the ABC's Q&A program following the Zaky Mallah controversy. In a media release sent around via email by the national broadcaster, Mr Turnbull's name was listed among the guests lined up for the next week's show, which is filmed in Sydney. Other panellists alongside Mr Turnbull are war correspondent Michael Ware, Canadian Christian scholar John Stackhouse, Lowy Institute's director of polling Alex Oliver and Shadow Assistant Minister for Education Amanda Rishworth. The confirmation of Mr Turnbull's appearance ends days of speculation the Communications Minister would boycotted the show along with his other fellow ministers.Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull will appear on ABC's Q&AIt comes after Tony Abbott banned government frontbenchers from showMr Turnbull's appearance on panel was confirmed by an ABC press releasePrime Minister's boycott blamed for Barnaby Joyce's cancellation last week
'_ was told this tonight and apologised to Q&A that he would not be able to appear.'