Jewish Australian experiences on ABC panel

Published: 28 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The ABC has confirmed David Speers will host a new panel show exploring Jewish Australian experiences, launching just seven months after the long-running Q+A program was axed. The network revealed that the show, titled ABC National Forum, will investigate pressing news topics while featuring politicians and experts before a live studio audience. The first episode will specifically focus on the lives and experiences of Jewish Australians, including issues arising from the Bondi terrorist attack, highlighting the broadcaster’s commitment to inclusive community dialogue.

News director Justin Stevens said the program aims to foster social cohesion and dialogue across the country. “Listening to one another is essential to strengthening social harmony and fostering a more cohesive nation,” Stevens explained, emphasising the broadcaster’s role in encouraging informed public discussion. The ABC has long sought new formats to engage audiences directly, presenting a modern “town square” approach for national conversations.

Speers, well-known for hosting Insiders and serving as a rotating host on Q+A between 2021 and 2023, described the program as an opportunity for Australians to learn from one another. He stated that it would allow citizens “to share their knowledge and experiences, hear from others, and better understand each other,” reflecting a core aim of public broadcasting. The ABC’s managing director, Hugh Marks, echoed these sentiments, confirming the program aligns with the national broadcaster’s commitment to fostering unity.

“That responsibility is at the core of our role as the national public broadcaster,” Marks said, highlighting ongoing investment in content designed to connect and serve communities across Australia. Marks also hinted at the development of the show during Senate estimates in December, describing a need to restore a “town hall” format that had been largely lost over Q+A’s lengthy run, which will now include episodes focusing on Jewish Australian experiences to ensure diverse voices are represented.

The ABC has a long history of town-hall-style discussion programming. Former managing director Mark Scott praised the format’s capacity to unify audiences in 2009, while incoming chair Kim Williams in 2024 described aspirations for the ABC to act as a “national campfire” fostering shared understanding. Q+A, the flagship discussion program, debuted in 2007 under host Tony Jones and executive producer Peter McEvoy, achieving widespread influence during its early years and pioneering live social media integration with tweets displayed during broadcasts. The ABC’s new direction aims to continue such engagement, now highlighting Jewish Australian experiences within public discourse.

Despite its prominence, Q+A faced cancellation in June, which Stevens described as involving the “loss of talented colleagues” but insisted the decision reflected no fault of the presenters. Patricia Karvelas hosted the program from July 2023 after Stan Grant stepped down, with Grant originally taking the full-time role in August 2022 following Hamish Macdonald’s departure and a period of rotating hosts.

The ABC National Forum will aim to rebuild the community engagement lost with Q+A’s conclusion, providing a platform for open discussion on contemporary social issues. By highlighting Jewish Australian experiences, the program intends to facilitate empathy and understanding among audiences. This focus on shared experiences reflects a broader national dialogue, emphasising how inclusive media representation can strengthen social harmony and civic participation.

Speers’ experience and credibility as a political commentator are expected to enhance the program’s depth and reach. Observers anticipate that the panel format, combined with live audience participation, will encourage nuanced debate while promoting respectful exchange across different viewpoints. By addressing complex societal topics such as community resilience, anti-Semitism, and multicultural integration, the show is positioned to resonate with diverse Australian audiences.

The launch of ABC National Forum is also symbolic of the broadcaster’s broader strategic direction. In addition to entertaining, it seeks to educate and unite communities through constructive discourse, reflecting a modern interpretation of public service media. Analysts suggest the show could serve as a blueprint for future programming that balances expert insight, audience interaction, and national storytelling, reinforcing the ABC’s unique role in Australia’s media landscape.

Community groups have expressed support for the initiative, noting that visibility and dialogue on minority experiences are critical in promoting inclusivity. The ABC’s efforts to spotlight Jewish Australians’ experiences are seen as part of a larger commitment to socially conscious journalism and civic engagement. Experts suggest that such programs can reduce societal polarization by providing a platform for empathy, knowledge sharing, and factual discussion.

Audience reactions are expected to shape the program’s development, with feedback from live viewers informing future episodes. The ABC’s strategic focus on engagement, inclusivity, and national cohesion mirrors a growing global trend where public broadcasters adapt traditional formats to contemporary societal challenges. By presenting nuanced, expert-led conversations, ABC National Forum could set a precedent for responsible, human-centred journalism in Australia.

The ABC’s announcement underscores the importance of continuing public discourse on pressing social issues. Through a mix of expert analysis, audience participation, and thematic exploration, the program seeks to rebuild trust in public media while highlighting the experiences of communities often underrepresented in mainstream narratives. This approach reflects the broadcaster’s enduring mission to facilitate informed citizenship and national dialogue in a rapidly evolving media environment.

ABC National Forum represents a strategic attempt to reconnect Australians with civic conversation, offering a space where knowledge, perspective, and lived experience intersect. By placing Jewish Australian stories at the forefront, the program underscores the value of representation and listening as tools for societal cohesion. With Speers at the helm, audiences can anticipate rigorous debate, human-centred storytelling, and thoughtful exploration of issues affecting the nation.

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