Season 12 Plot
After 12 years, this season was Tony Jones's final season as full-time host.
Q&A Season 12 aired on February 4th, 2019.
Season 12 Episodes
1. The Boats, the Banks, and the River
Tony Jones returns with a powerful line-up of independent voices: Julia Banks, Andrew Wilkie, Adam Bandt, Kerryn Phelps, Rebekha Sharkie.
2. Manus, Hakeem, and Franking Credits
Tony Jones is joined in Melbourne by Liberal Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson; Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus; Crikey founder Stephen Mayne, businesswoman Megan Purcell and People's Panellist Zoya Patel.
3. Q&A on Drugs
On the panel to discuss drug policy: Chief Superintendent Stuart Smith; author Kerryn Redpath; Pioneer of pill testing in Australia Dr David Caldicott; Medical Director Marianne Jauncey; Former AFP Commissioner Mick Palmer.
4. Jordan Peterson Destroys Q&A
Tony Jones is joined in Melbourne by Canadian psychologist/author Dr Jordan Peterson; QLD Labor MP Terri Butler; freelance broadcaster/writer/author Catherine McGregor and writer/commentator Van Badham.
5. A Church in Crisis
Tony Jones is joined by NSW Liberal Senator Jim Molan, NSW Labor Senator Kristina Keneally, Catholic Lay Leader Francis Sullivan, institutional abuse lawyer Dr Viv Waller and rabbi and relationship counsellor Shmuley Boteach.
6. Q&A: Women in Leadership
Annabel Crabb presents a Women in Leadership special with Industry Minister Karen Andrews, Australias first indigenous female MP Linda Burney, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Sabina Shugg and AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone.
7. Q&A In Townsville
A special Q&A in Townsville. Tony Jones joins Minister for Emergency Management Linda Reynolds, Labor MP for Herbert Cathy O'Toole, Professor Stephen Williams, grazier Jane McMillan and rural property valuer Roger Hill.
8. Roxane Gay on Q&A
Tony Jones joins feminist writer Roxane Gay, retiring Government MP Craig Laundy, Shadow Minister for Environment, Water and Citizenship Tony Burke, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi and Liberal Vice President Teena McQueen.
9. Cash, Guns, Gangs, and Life
On the eve of the budget Tony Jones joins Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos, Labor front-bencher Amanda Rishworth, social analyst Rebecca Huntley, IPA Executive Director John Roskam and People's Panellist Lakshmi Logathassan.
10. Q&A Budget Special
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg joins Tony Jones for an election budget special in Melbourne, as the audience ask about the Coalition government's economic plan and the big issues likely to dominate the Federal election campaign.
11. Election 2019: The Battle For Queensland
Guest host Virginia Trioli is in Queensland with LNP Senator James McGrath, Labor MP Terri Butler, Greens Senator Larissa Waters and One Nation candidate Malcolm Roberts to discuss the issues ahead of the May 18 election.
12. The Election Countdown
Tony Jones is joined by Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen, The Guardian Editor Lenore Taylor, Crikey Managing Editor Bhakthi Puvanenthiran and The Australian's Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan.
13. Bill Shorten on Q&A
Just 12 days before election day, the Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten joins Tony Jones and an audience of undecided voters in Melbourne to face the public's questions.
14. The Q&A Last Chance Saloon
With less than a week before Australia decides who will govern for the next three years the public question Liberal campaign spokesman Simon Birmingham, Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek and Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.
15. The Wash Up
After Australians deliver their election verdict, Labor frontbencher Jim Chalmers, former Liberal MP Christopher Pyne, broadcaster Alan Jones, political reporter Alice Workman and business leader Ming Long join Tony Jones.
16. First Australians and Quiet Australians
The debate turns philosophical with politicians and big thinkers Liberal MP Tim Wilson, ALP MP Mark Dreyfus, Professor of Indigenous Studies Marcia Langton, philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy and people's panelist Rachael Jacobs.
17. Jimmy Barnes Rocks Q&A
Joining Tony Jones on the panel from Melbourne are: rock icon and author Jimmy Barnes, author Sisonke Msimang, SA Liberal MP Nicolle Flint, regional Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon, and energy policy specialist Matthew Warren.
18. Q&A at Vivid
In a special Q&A from the Vivid Festival: rapper/actor/writer Adam Briggs, broadcaster/writer Faustina Agolley, Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes, CEO of CSIRO Dr Larry Marshall and cyberpsychologist Jocelyn Brewer.
19. Science Special
Joining Tony Jones to talk everything science: physicist Prof. Brian Cox, marine ecologist Emma Johnston, atmospheric and climate scientist David Karoly, astrophysicist Kirsten Banks and astrobiologist Martin Van Kranendonk.
20. The Freedom to Fund Yourself
Joining Tony Jones in Melbourne: Education Minister Dan Tehan, Shadow Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick, Director of Change.org Sally Rugg and people's panellist Ash Belsar.
21. Union Bosses and Suburban Dads
On the eve of parliament's return, Tony Jones joins Liberal Senator James Paterson, Shadow Minister for Innovation Clare O'Neil, writer/broadcaster Jamila Rizvi, IR Commentator Grace Kelly and people's panellist Greg Day.
22. Nukes in an Uncertain World
Joining Tony Jones: Senate President Scott Ryan, Opposition Senate Leader Penny Wong, Human Rights Lawyer Diana Sayed, Tom Switzer from the Centre for Independent Studies and Hugh White, Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU.
23. Deemed Not To Matter
Joining Tony Jones in Melbourne: Shadow Minister for Families Linda Burney, Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie, Former Liberal Senator Jim Molan, comedian Sami Shah and marketing and political strategist Toby Ralph.
24. Boris, Brexit and The Black Dog
On the panel: UK political strategist Alastair Campbell, former WA Premier Geoff Gallop, Property Industry Foundation CEO Kate Mills, Menzies Research Centre Executive Director Nick Cater and political scientist Anne Tiernan.
25. Wage Theft and Celebrity Chefs
Fran Kelly joins Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz, Victorian Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching, social justice advocate Tim Costello, communications consultant Parnell Palme McGuinness and cook/writer/presenter Adam Liaw.
26. Zali's Political Slalom
Joining Tony Jones are Independent MP Zali Steggall, Liberal MP Jason Falinski, Labor Senator Katy Gallagher, Australian Council of Social Service CEO Cassandra Goldie and The Australian's Economics Editor Adam Creighton.
27. How Good is Democracy?
Tony Jones joins philosopher/author A. C. Grayling, Minister for Population & Cities Alan Tudge, Shadow Minister for the Environment & Water Terri Butler, historian/broadcaster Clare Wright and people's panellist Li Shee Su.
28. The Indigenous Voice
A special look at the case for Constitutional Recognition and an Indigenous voice to parliament. Tony Jones is joined by Noel Pearson, Linda Burney, Julian Leeser, Jacinta Price and Patricia Turner.
29. High School Special
We open up the panel to the leaders of the future. In a High School Special, students William Gillett, Aurora Matchett, Willoughby Duff and Varsha Yajman join NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Senator Kristina Keneally.
30. Writers Special
A Q&A Writers special with American novelist Lionel Shriver, civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson, Australian journalist Ruby Hamad, writer/broadcaster Benjamin Law and Dean of Columbia Journalism School Steve Coll.
31. Donations, Disability and Disillusionment
Guest host Fran Kelly joins ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja, Labor MP for Cowan Anne Aly, WA Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, Grattan Institute's Danielle Wood and The Australian's Foreign Affairs Editor Greg Sheridan.
32. The Political Donations Arms Race
Tony Jones is joined by Liberal Senator James Paterson, Shadow Minister for Trade Madeleine King, author/social analyst Eva Cox, former Labor Senator Sam Dastyari and China expert at the United States Studies Centre John Lee.
33. Kerry O'Brien and Your Right To Know
Answering your questions are legendary journalist and author Kerry O'Brien, broadcaster/commentator Jan Fran, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher, Shadow Health Minister Chris Bowen and Fairfield City Councillor Dai Le.
34. The Power of Music
Explore the power of music to transform lives with rock legend Tex Perkins, singer/songwriter Katie Noonan, The Choir of Hard Knocks founder Jonathon Welch, soul/blues artist Mojo Juju, and Hip Hop artist L-FRESH The LION.
35. A Spotlight on Aged Care
Guest host Fran Kelly leads a national conversation on aged care. We discuss the issues plaguing the system with Maggie Beer, Richard Colbeck, Julie Collins, Sarah Holland-Batt and Sean Rooney.
36. Democracy or Disruption?
As Extinction Rebellion and Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters take to the streets, Hamish Macdonald discusses China, climate and the right to protest with Tim Wilson, Tim Watts, Vicky Xu, Jennifer Hewett and Simon Longstaff.
37. Future Alert
Guest host Annabel Crabb is joined by John Hewson, Jordan Nguyen, Veena Sahajwalla, Julian Cribb and Chloe Spackman to discuss whether our government is capable of addressing potential disasters threatening human survival.
38. The Drought
Guest host Hamish Macdonald leads a discussion on drought with Minister for Water Resources and Drought David Littleproud, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon, Fiona Simson, Maryanne Slattery and Kate McBride.
39. Broadside
Guest host Fran Kelly leads an all-women panel with journalist Mona Eltahawy, author Jess Hill, writer/Indigenous rights activist Nayuka Gorrie, businesswoman Hana Assafiri and anti-ageism campaigner/author Ashton Applewhite.
40. Climate and Catastrophe
Tony Jones is joined by economic strategist Ross Garnaut, Aus Energy Council CEO Sarah McNamara, Liberal MP Jason Falinski, Shadow Minister for Climate Change & Energy Mark Butler plus Silicon Valley entrepreneur Sarah Friar.
41. Q&A in WA
Q&A is in WA for an Australia Talks special. Joining Tony Jones is Labor MP Anne Aly, WA State Liberal MP Zak Kirkup, human rights lawyer Hannah McGlade, political editor Lanai Scarr and people's panellist Dylan Storer.
42. International Power
A focus on international affairs with Former US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, Labor MP Tanya Plibersek, Israeli Parliamentarian Tamar Zandberg, James Brown from the US Studies Centre and The Australian's Greg Sheridan.
43. Q&A Pacific
Q&A celebrates 80 years of Australia broadcasting into the Asia-Pacific region with a special from Suva, Fiji. Joining Tony Jones are Alex Hawke, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Enele Sopoaga, Manu Tupou-Roosen and Virisila Buadromo.
44. The End of an Era
The 2019 finale of Q&A. Joining Tony Jones on the panel Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, Indigenous leader Pat Turner, author Sisonke Msimang and ANU Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt.