ABC has officially ended its long-running current affairs programme Q+A, confirming this morning that the show will not return after 18 years on air.
Launched in 2008, Q+A was a fixture of Australia’s political discourse, offering live debate and public engagement in a format that saw politicians and newsmakers questioned directly by audience members. It began under Executive Producer Peter McEvoy with Tony Jones as host, and more recently featured Patricia Karvelas as presenter and Eliza Harvey as Executive Producer.
The programme’s cancellation forms part of a strategic shift by ABC News, which says it is aiming to “renew and innovate” how it engages the public. Director of News Justin Stevens thanked the Q+A team and highlighted the network’s intent to build on initiatives like Your Say, an interactive platform that collected nearly 30,000 public submissions during the recent federal election. Insights from that project were used to shape ABC’s election debate coverage.
As part of the changes, Karvelas—who also fronts Afternoon Briefing and contributes to the Politics Now podcast and ABC News analysis—will have an expanded role with Four Corners. The network also plans to hire a new Executive Producer for Documentaries & Specials to drive a broader slate of longform journalism and public interest investigations.
The move marks a definitive turn for ABC towards curated, in-depth content and digital-first engagement. It comes at a time when broadcasters globally are rethinking panel-based formats amid shifting audience behaviour and declining linear reach.
For viewers, it closes the chapter on one of Australia’s most visible platforms for direct political dialogue. But for ABC, the strategy is clear: fewer live forums, more structured storytelling, and a stronger documentary spine across its news portfolio.
Q+A episodes remain available on ABC iview.
