Q&A panellist John Roskam ‘quoted Nazi slogan from of Auschwitz’

  • Q&A panellist John Roskam remarked ‘working hard makes you free’ on Monday
  • Slogan famous for appearing at Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps
  • ‘He may as well have said ‘Arbeit macht frei! Heil Hitler!’, one angry viewer noted

Q&A panellist John Roskam may as well have said ‘Heil Hitler’ when he quoted a famous Nazi slogan on the program, according to hundreds of disgruntled viewers. 

The boss of the Institute of Public Affairs and former University of Melbourne lecturer came under instant scrutiny when he pronounced ‘working hard makes you free’ on Monday night. 

The German slogan is famous for appearing on the entrance of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps.  

Q&A panellist John Roskam (left) may as well have said ‘Heil Hitler’ when he quoted a famous Nazi slogan on the program, according to hundreds of disgruntled viewers

The German slogan is famous for appearing on the entrance of Auschwitz (pictured) and other Nazi concentration camps

The German slogan is famous for appearing on the entrance of Auschwitz (pictured) and other Nazi concentration camps

‘Could John Roskam NOT know that ”work sets you free” was a favourite Nazi slogan? He may as well have said ‘Arbeit macht frei! Heil Hitler!’, one viewer noted. 

‘Is it just me or did the head of the IPA just defend inequality on Q&A by quoting the slogan at the main gate at Auschwitz?’, another asked.

‘IPA dude just quoted Nazi Germany’s signs over the entrance to concentration camps,’ yet another noted.

Mr Roskam’s comment came after an audience member posed a question about stagnant wages in Australia and a growing gap between the rich and poor. 

The boss of the Institute of Public Affairs and former University of Melbourne lecturer came under instant scrutiny when he pronounced 'working hard makes you free' on Monday night

The boss of the Institute of Public Affairs and former University of Melbourne lecturer came under instant scrutiny when he pronounced ‘working hard makes you free’ on Monday night

Survivors of Auschwitz are pictured leaving the camp at the end of World War II in Poland, February 1945

Survivors of Auschwitz are pictured leaving the camp at the end of World War II in Poland, February 1945

When he responded ‘inequality is a measure of freedom’, host Tony Jones suggested: ‘Inequality makes you free, you could actually make a slogan out of that.’ 

Mr Roskam replied: ‘Working hard makes you free too.’ 

The IPA Executive Director’s publications include Australia’s Education Choices and ‘Terrorism and Poverty’ in Blaming Ourselves.

He also writes a fortnightly column in The Australian Financial Review.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Roskam for comment.  

When Mr Roskam said 'inequality is a measure of freedom', host Tony Jones suggested: 'Inequality makes you free, you could actually make a slogan out of that'

When Mr Roskam said ‘inequality is a measure of freedom’, host Tony Jones suggested: ‘Inequality makes you free, you could actually make a slogan out of that’

German phrase 'Arbeit macht frei' (seen outside the Dachau concentration camp) translates 'work sets you free'

German phrase ‘Arbeit macht frei’ (seen outside the Dachau concentration camp) translates ‘work sets you free’

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