Steve Price doubles down on Q&A 'hysteria' remarks

Shock jock Steve Price has refused to back down from calling a female journalist "hysterical" during a heated debate about domestic violence on Q&A last night.

The outspoken broadcaster told The Project tonight that his description of Van Badham was "accurate" and he accused the Guardian Australia columnist of verballing him as the pair traded blows on entrenched misogyny.

When Project host Carrie Bickmore, who mentioned that she often disabuses people of the notion that Price is a "prick", asked the regular panelist if he was prepared to recant his description of Badham, the response was unequivocal.

"No because I think I accurately described how badly Van was behaving – I'm not gonna be verballed by somebody on a serious issue, I'm not gonna joke about those issues," Price said.

"I'm just disappointed today that this story has become about me."

Last night's argument was sparked by a question from anti-violence campaigner Tarang Chowla, whose sister was stabbed to death by her partner last year. Price claimed tonight that he was "ambushed" by an ABC producer who hadn't told him that the question would be coming from someone with such a personal connection to the issue.

When Bickmore accused him of making the issue about himself, Price said he hoped the brouhaha would have a positive effect.

"I think good will come out of it," he said.

"I didn't make it about me, VB (Badham) made it about me…I don't need to defend my record."

Price also told the current affairs program he had agreed to meet the man who posed the question, Tarang Chawla, whose 23-year-old sister Nikita was stabbed to death in July last year by her partner.

Speaking with nine.com.au this evening, Mr Chawla said that while he didn't expect a response from Price, he was prepared to speak with him.

"It was very shocking for him to use such language to Van," Mr Chawla said.

"I've had no contact with him, it's an invitation and if he'd like to take it up I'd be more than happy to talk to him.

"I certainly don't expect an apology, he certainly hasn't wronged me at all. If there's anyone he should apologise to it’s the victims and survivors of violence.

"It'd be good (if he'd acknowledge) that sexist comments can contribute to the culture of male entitlement and male privilege."

Mr Chawla wrote an opinion piece today in which he challenged Price to consider the kind of language he uses more carefully.

"Steve, sexist comments thinly disguised as 'banter' are part of a complex problem," Mr Chawla wrote for news.com.au.

"They feed a culture of male privilege and entitlement that lead to victim-blaming, justifying violence and excusing misogynistic attitudes.

"Steve, you can get upset because your mates’ jokes weren’t that all funny, or you can be upset because women are being murdered.

"It’s your call, mate."