The Year of the Voice

Australians will be asked to vote in a referendum on a First Nations Voice to Parliament, later this year. Some are calling for more detail, while others say this is a diversionary tactic. So can we reach agreement as a nation on this crucial issue? How divisive will the debate be? And what impact will it have on Indigenous Australians?

The debate is coinciding with a wave of violence and crime engulfing Alice Springs, amid claims of children as young as five roaming the streets at night. The PM has travelled to the town after local Indigenous politicians made pleas for help – should the government step in? And what impact will the crisis have on the discussion about a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament?

January 26 is a day that forces us to confront our national identity – where we've come from, where we're heading and what kind of country we want to be. With the new King's coronation approaching, does our future lie with the monarchy or as a republic? What impact will Prince Harry's explosive revelations have on the republican movement? Is it time to bid farewell to the royal soap opera?

Meanwhile as politicians prepare to return to Canberra, the government is likely facing other challenges. How will Anthony Albanese's team tackle the wicked problems facing Australians – including the cost-of-living crisis, increasing pressure on the health and aged care systems, and climate change?

Panellists: Craig Foster, Chair of the Australian Republican Movement; Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians; Bridget McKenzie, Nationals Senate Leader; Lidia Thorpe, Greens Senator for Victoria; and Tom Calma, 2023 Senior Australian of the Year & Aboriginal Australian human rights and social justice campaigner.