Disability, Drag and Canberra Culture
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 Services
Bridget McKenzie, Nationals Senate Leader
Reuben Kaye, Comedian, singer and writer
Monique Ryan, Independent member for Kooyong
Sam Connor, Disability Rights Advocate
Trailer
Recently Updated Shows
RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars
A twist on the mega-hit RuPaul's Drag Race as queens from previous seasons are pitted against each other in a wig-to-wig drag battle royale to determine which of these All Stars will claim the ultimate title and be declared Queen amongst queens
Big Brother
Big Brother follows a group of people living together in a house outfitted with dozens of high-definition cameras and microphones recording their every move, 24 hours a day. Each week, the Houseguests will vote someone out of the house. At the end, the last remaining Houseguest will receive the grand prize of $500,000.
Jeopardy!
Jeopardy! is a classic game show -- with a twist. The answers are given first, and the contestants supply the questions. Three contestants, including the previous show's champion, compete in six categories and in three rounds (with each round's "answers" being worth more prize money).
Shark Tank
An exciting new reality show that, in these trying economic times, gives budding entrepreneurs a chance to make their dreams come true and become successful - and possibly wealthy - business people. But the entrepreneurs must first try to convince five tough, multi-millionaire tycoons to part with their own hard-earned cash and give them the funding they need to jumpstart their business ideas.
Enter the Sharks of Shark Tank, who lifted themselves up by their bootstraps to make their own entrepreneurial dreams come true and turned their ideas into empires. The five Sharks of this ruthless panel are real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, "infomercial" industry pioneer Kevin Harrington, technology innovator Robert Herjavec, fashion icon Daymond John and financial expert Kevin O'Leary.