Kate Miller-Heidke Brawls With Callea After Q&A Appearance

Kate Miller-Heidke's appearance on ABC TV panel show Q&A last night has drawn mixed reactions on social networking platforms, which even led to her branding Anthony Callea a "fuckwit".

The show followed a political thread throughout, debating Labor's precarious position and the upcoming Federal Budget.

When asked to comment on a question from the live audience about the budget by Tony Jones, Miller-Heidke offered "Wasn't he voted the best treasurer in the world or something, Wayne Swan? If that doesn't save Labor - that he's the best in the world - I don't think a budget has a chance."

She also got a few laughs when Jones directed another question to her - this time about the carbon tax. "I don't really care about either of them, to be honest, sorry," she said.

The show, which posts a selection of Twitter comments on-screen during the show, always generates a large amount of Twitter traffic under the hash-tag #qanda and there were a number of comments on Miller-Heidke last night.

One popular post by smurray38 was, "If Kate Miller Heidke is expected to add something to #qanda it can't be long before George Brandis is guest programming Rage".

Former Australian Idol contestant Anthony Callea was one of the most scathing though, posting, "There is one person on the panel tonight that is a total waste of space....embarrassing rep for Gen Y! #qanda".

To this she responded, "Pot Kettle Fuckwit".

Callea then commented on the 'hate tweets' he was recieving from users. "The 1 thing I learnt tonight on twitter is... if you have an opinion and your not all peace, love and mungbeans you get hate tweet".

Callea has been contacted for comment by theMusic.com.au.

UPDATE: Opinions on the Miller-Heidke v Callea feud appear to be split across viewers. After theMusic.com.au's original story spread across the SPA social network, some users backed Miller-Heidke's comments, while others questioned her appearence.

On The Drum Media's (Sydney) page, Corey Osboine posted, "‎'pot kettle fuckwit' totally redeems her embarrassing performance on qanda."

Users on Inpress' (Melbourne) page were less kind. "Lucky she can sing," wrote Jaki Cornell. "Cringed every time she spoke - absolute joke she was on that program."

In Brisbane, on Time Off's page, blame was leveled at the ABC. Den Bishop wrote, "Blame the ABC for using unqualified and ignorant guests to draw a younger viewing demographic. Use horses for courses and not donkeys."

Most understanding of was perhaps Kevin Da Silva, who posted on The Drum Media Perth's page, "I'm glad she was on the panel as it adds diversity to the conversation and i think it is a shame that people choose not to appreciate that. There have been other droll panelists, who i assume through coincidental circumstance, haven't quite added much to the conversation; at least she was herself."

Miller-Heidke, who recently released a new album, finished the show by performing a song. She will be writing a piece on her experience on the show for theMusic.com.au tomorrow.

You can watch the hour-long show in full on the ABC's iview service.

Watch Kate Miller-Heidke performing Fire And Iron for theMusic Sessions.