Q+A Season 2023 Episode 21 - Disability, Drag and Canberra Culture

Airdate: 2023-Jun-19

Episode summary:

This week on Q+A… a grubby week in politics as parliament's toxic environment is again in the spotlight. Amid fresh abuse claims, a party room banishment and relentless questions in the senate about transparency and whether a minister misled parliament – it seems the much-vaunted culture change in Canberra is little but a distant memory. Is this just the new political normal?Meanwhile… the NDIS, 10 years on. The revolutionary scheme changed the lives of millions of Australians living with disability – but a decade later, how well is it working for those who need it most? Amid criticisms of cost blowouts and dodgy providers, what will it take to make the program sustainable for the long term – and ensure it provides the critical support participants rely on?The government insists it can find $74 billion in savings from the NDIS over the next 10 years while "improving the participant experience", but with a major review of the scheme not due to hand down its findings until October – is Labor acting too hastily?And just what is the issue with drag storytime? Councils are being forced to shut down the reading events at libraries amid fears they'll be targeted by far-right activists. Drag artist Reuben Kaye – who faced a public backlash over a controversial joke earlier this year – says the increasingly vitriolic debate is a distraction, but a negative one that has real-life impacts. So where to from here?Joining Patricia Karvelas on the panel live in Melbourne:Bill Shorten, Minister for NDIS and Government ServicesBridget McKenzie, Nationals Senate LeaderReuben Kaye, Comedian, singer and writer Monique Ryan, Independent member for KooyongSam Connor, Disability Rights Advocate

About Q+A series:

Q&A puts punters, pollies and pundits together in the studio to thrash out the hot issues of the week. It's about democracy in action ...Show more >