Communications Minister Demands ABC Apologise For Controversial 'Tonightly' Skit

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has demanded the ABC apologise for a skit featured on last week's episode of Tonightly With Tom Ballard, in which an Australian Conservatives candidate was called a "cunt".

The skit centred on the current discussions about renaming the Melbourne electorate of Batman, given John Batman's involvement in the murder of Indigenous Australians. 

Show regular Greg Larsen acted as an Australian Electoral Commission representative when speaking to Ballard and suggested that the name be changed to "Batman-was-a-cunt".

While the joke was received positively from both the crowd and Ballard, the host said, "That sounds like an awful idea, that's terrible".

Larsen then showed campaign posters for Greens candidate Alex Bhathal and Labor candidate Ged Kearney featuring the slogan, however, he took a more direct approach with a mock-up of Australian Conservatives candidate Kevin Bailey.

"This was an issue because there is no Batman anywhere on that poster, so I've had to put 'Kevin Bailey was a cunt',” Larsen said.

"Candidates for elected office expect to be criticised and parodied. But this ABC segment clearly crossed a line, particularly given that it was directed towards an individual who has served his nation in uniform," Fifield said.

"Vitriolic abuse of this kind has no place on the national broadcaster and I will be asking the ABC to investigate.

"The ABC should also immediately offer an unreserved apology to Mr Bailey."

The Music has contacted ABC for comment.