Q+A: May 19

This week, David Speers hosts Q+A live from Melbourne, dissecting the final countdown to the election.

Australian music icon Paul Kelly also performs.

With just days to go, Scott Morrison has described himself as “a bit of a bulldozer” and promised to change his leadership style if his government is re-elected at this weekend’s election. Anthony Albanese has called the move “desperate” and says if voters want change, then “change the government”. The Prime Minister’s admission is being likened to Julia Gillard’s 2010 promise to show Australians “the real Julia”. Is Scott Morrison committed to doing things differently or is he telling voters what he thinks they want to hear to win government?

Housing is emerging as a defining issue of the campaign with both parties trying to win votes with promises to make it easier for people to buy their own home. The Prime Minister has announced a new scheme allowing first home buyers to withdraw up to $50,000 from their super fund to put towards their purchase. Are you in favour of this idea? Meanwhile Labor is hoping its shared equity housing scheme will help secure an election victory. Will these schemes help make housing more affordable in Australia or will they push prices up? And what about the growing number of renters, who are facing rising rents across the country? Renters are emerging as a powerful voting bloc in key marginal seats – are they being ignored?

And the “architect” of the modern independent movement Cathy McGowan will join this week’s panel. The former member for Indi made history nine years ago when she defeated sitting Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella. Now retired from politics, Cathy McGowan has become the so-called “godmother” of grassroots democracy campaigns in Australia, helping current Independent candidates across the country to get elected. This week it emerged Independent candidate Monique Ryan’s decision not to allocate preferences on how-to-vote cards is leading to invalid votes in Kooyong. Will it hurt her chances of election? Is transparency around preferences important to you?

Joining David Speers on the panel:

Cathy McGowan, Former independent member for Indi
Josh Burns, Labor Member for Macnamara
Gigi Foster, Economist, UNSW
Peter Hartcher, Political Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age

8:30pm Thursday on ABC.