Q and A

The year 2020 brought us drought, bushfires, the chaos of a pandemic and an economic recession that has changed the world, and all of us. All against a backdrop of a US election and deteriorating relations with China. Panellists: Jimmy Barnes, rock legend and author; Kristy McBain, Labor member for Eden-Monaro; Michael Yabsley, former NSW Liberal MP; Rita Therese, sex worker, artist and writer; and Lavina Lee, international relations expert.

Western Sydney is booming, now the third largest economy in Australia. But coronavirus COVID-19 has hit hard - especially jobs - and it's a scenario faced by outer suburbs in many major cities where population booms but infrastructure lags. Panellists: Stuart Ayres, NSW minister for jobs, investment, tourism and Western Sydney; Richard Marles, deputy federal opposition leader; Dai Le, Fairfield city councillor; Amani Haydar, artist, lawyer and writer; and Amanda Rose, founding director of Western Sydney Women.

Its been a big week: allegations of sexual misconduct and a toxic culture for women in Canberra, Trump clings to power in a bizarre post-election campaign, Labor spats over climate policy and a potential vaccine breakthrough. Panelists: Barnaby Joyce, Nationals member for New England; Helen Haines, independent member for Indi; Emma Husar, former Labor MP; Rutger Bregman, historian and author, Humankind and Utopia for Realists; and Jane Caro, writer and novelist.