It’s official: the ABC’s “Q+A” is getting the chop.
The Corporation confirms it will “discontinue” its current affairs show, a staple for Monday night armchair news, politics and culture vultures, ending a near-two-decade run.
“The ABC has today announced a plan to discontinue “Q+A” after an outstanding 18-year run and look to new ways to facilitate discussion and elevate voices from around the country,” reads a statement issued Wednesday, June 11.
“Q+A” has aired since 2008, and has racked up more than 500 episodes. The weekly show is simulcast live on ABC TV, ABC iView and into Asia and the Pacific on ABC Australia.
“We’re very proud of ‘Q+A’s’ great achievements over the years. The team has done a terrific job, including a strong performance during the federal election campaign,” comments ABC Director, News Justin Stevens. “Discontinuing the program at this point is no reflection on anyone on the show.”
Stevens adds, “We always need to keep innovating and renewing, and in the two decades since ‘Q+A’ began the world has changed. It’s time to rethink how audiences want to interact and to evolve how we can engage with the public to include as many Australians as possible in national conversations. We’ll be working on how we can continue to foster engagement of this nature in an innovative way.”
“Q+A’s” “uncertain” future, and expected axing, was first revealed by The Sydney Morning Herald in a report published Tuesday, June 10.
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Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Patricia Karvelas since mid-2023, following the departure of Stan Grant, “Q+A “typically gathers local and international politicians and thought leaders for a panel debate on the “big issues” affecting Australians. The audience, of course, is invited to chime in. During its peak early years, the #qanda hashtag would trend as the show went to air.
“’Q+A’ is the town hall,” says Karvelas in the network’s promotional material. “It’s the only program bringing together a range of guests to debate the big issues where ordinary people – not journalists or insiders – can come along and ask questions of powerful people.”
The discussion program was created by executive producer Peter McEvoy, and initially led by Tony Jones for a Thursday night slot. “Q+A” moved to Monday nights in 2010, bounced to Thursdays, and returned again to a Monday evening slot. Jones hosted his final episode in December 2019, ending a 12-year stint as the face of the format.
Recent episodes have explored the housing crisis, climate, national security, wages, migration and more.
“Q+A,” in its current Monday, 9:35pm timeslot “Returns in August,” reads a social post from several months ago. That’s no longer the case.
“Spending time with the audience members who came to ‘Q+A’ late on a Monday night has been the best part of this job,” Karvelas remarks. “They have always been the reason for this show and I’m forever grateful to them for coming on national TV and having the courage to ask questions of powerful people.”
While “Q+A” reaches the end of the road, the ABC is said to be “investing in producing more news documentaries” and will soon advertise for the new position of Executive Producer, Documentaries & Specials. New projects include embedding “Your Say” as a permanent initiative to “drive audience engagement” in communities across the country.