American politics may have been the focus of Q&A on Monday evening, but the debate inevitably turned to how Australia would fare if Donald Trump wins the race to the White House.

“I have every confidence that Donald Trump has a very positive opinion of Australia, because if he didn’t, he would let everybody know,” US political analyst Crispin Rovere told the audience on Monday night. 

O’Rourke was told to ‘shut up’ on Twitter. Photo: ABC

Host Tony Jones pointed out that Trump might not be talking about Australia simply because he “doesn’t know we exist”.

“Well, you’re lucky in that sense,” Rovere replied. 

Panellists including former Foreign Minister and NSW Premier Bob Carr, and Lowy Institute consultant Lydia Khalil battled for air time with American satirist PJ O’Rourke, who was savaged on social media for his “waffling” monologues.

Yes PJ, "You can go on and on…" #QandA

— Annette Hughes (@net_hues) August 8, 2016

‘Australia … Austria … ostrich’

O’Rourke argued that most Americans didn’t know or care about Australia’s relationship with the USA.

“Here is a country that many Americans have somewhat confused with Austria ... or possibly ostrich,” he said, suggesting that Trump was probably one of those people. 

That was the last time O’Rourke drew laughter from the crowd, with most tweets asking him to let the other panellists speak.

PJ O'Rourke has a wonderful ability to communicate a very simple point through just 15-30 minutes of vague discussion. #QandA

— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) August 8, 2016

By the second half of the show, even the experienced Tony Jones was having trouble “reining” O’Rourke in, as viewers were requesting.

“Ok, we’re gonna talk about American history,” threatened O’Rourke at one point.

“Well don’t talk about it too much because we don’t have time,” said a desperate Jones as he tried to bring the female panellists into the discussion.

#qanda Tony, reign in PJ's monologues – PLEASE!

— Pat Briscoe (@BriscoePat) August 8, 2016

Can you let the women speak?

Jones was forced to explicitly direct the conversation toward the women after the first half hour of the show was dominated by the men.

It’s likely show staff picked up on a flurry of tweets calling them out for denying the women airtime.

https://twitter.com/TimA68S/status/762619545836146688

isn't that every QandA?

— MJ (@mikjeffo) August 8, 2016

But even some affirmative action from Jones didn’t help.

After the host specifically asked the female panellists for their opinion on Hillary Clinton and sexism, one viewer tweeted: “The only time #QandA has gone from one woman to the other to answer a question: when it’s about a woman”.

Compulsory voting: it’s not going to happen

The panel agreed that America was about as likely to introduce compulsory voting as it was to impose gun control laws.

Is idea of compulsory voting in USA crazier than the idea of President Trump? @PJORourke & @KillerMartinis #QandA https://t.co/7MidCzryI9

— QandA (@QandA) August 8, 2016

“I think it is one of those good ideas that will never see the light of day in America,” US author and journalist Linda Tirado argued, noting that Australia’s “democracy sausages” – or sausage sizzles – were a great way of getting people to the polls.

“If we’re not going to get gun control – we’re certainly not going to get compulsory voting,” American consultant Khalil added. 

After taking a poll of the audience, Q&A revealed 81 per cent would vote for Clinton and four per cent for Trump.

Unfortunately, most of them won’t get the chance.

Is idea of compulsory voting in USA crazier than the idea of President Trump? @PJORourke & @KillerMartinis #QandA #factcheck

— tony anstatt 🦘🇪🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@treacl) August 8, 2016