Q+A: May 12

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher is part of the panel on this week’s Q+A.

Hosted by Stan Grant from Sydney, All this, the show features a live performance from Vika and Linda.

Undecided voters will play a key role this election and this week Q+A gives them the chance to shape the discussion. Early voting is now underway, and millions of Australians are expected to cast their vote ahead of election day. Last election more than a quarter of voters were yet to lock in their vote in the final weeks of the campaign and leaked Liberal party polling indicates the same number of the voting public are still unsure. What are the most pressing issues that will determine their choice?

The Coalition has described Labor’s support for a minimum wage rise in line with inflation as “unprecedented interference” with the Fair Work Commission process. While low paid workers say they would welcome the 5.1 per cent increase promised by Mr Albanese, businesses are worried they can’t afford it. Do you support a wage increase for low paid workers?

Cost-of-living concerns and climate change remain top of mind for young voters, many of whom are still making up their minds. Meanwhile, professional women are expected to be another influential voting bloc this election. Youth Researcher Intifar Chowdhury says young people don’t vote along party lines but on the issues that matter to them. How important will the votes of these two groups be in the final election result?

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has accused the so-called teal independents of “decapitating the moderate section of the Liberal Party”. Do you agree the rise of independent candidates will push the Liberal party to the right? What will this mean for the Coalition if they win a fourth term?

And as the pointy end of the campaign approaches, voters can expect to be bombarded by political advertisements. Current ad laws don’t prevent parties from telling lies and disinformation campaigns are becoming increasingly common in Australia. And the Australian Electoral commission is investigating who is responsible for a series of doctored posters that incorrectly linked independent candidates to the Greens. Advertising guru Siimon Reynolds created the famous grim reaper ad campaign in the 1980’s. Are the major parties cutting through? How does political advertising influence undecided voters now?

Joining Stan Grant on the panel:

Paul Fletcher, Minister for Communications and the Arts
Catherine King, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
Caroline Di Russo, Lawyer and political commentator
Siimon Reynolds, Advertising Entrepreneur
Intifar Chowdhury, Researcher and ANU Academic

8:30pm Thursday on ABC.