Live from Melbourne | Monday, February 20
This week on Q+A, the digital dilemma … with more of us living, working and socialising online, how can the internet become a safer space for all? Is regulation the answer – or is it up to the tech companies to change the culture?
Tennis champion Jelena Dokic has been candid about the abuse she’s copped in the virtual world – and its real-life consequences, while Australia’s new gender equality ambassador has even been mocked online by Donald Trump Jr. How can governments tackle this? Is it realistic to simply tell victims to get off socials when their livelihoods can depend on it?
And how young is too young for social media? Tik Tok and Instagram insist you have to be 13 to have an account – but can parents really know what their children are up to online? Politicians around the world are playing catch-up on controlling the social media giants. Will we ever get ahead or are we stuck with low-tech solutions to high-tech challenges?
Meanwhile, as our representatives wrap up a busy fortnight in Canberra, we’ll dissect the first sitting week of the year. The Reserve Bank Governor has faced a grilling in the Senate, but says we’re not done with rate hikes yet. The PM is attempting to walk a fine line over faith-based schools choosing the staff they want, but could the religious freedom issue prove a problem for Labor?
And Olympian Peter Bol’s provisional ban has been lifted – but what damage will the doping allegations do to his Paris preparation? How do athletes bounce back from these kinds of accusations?
All this plus the news of the week.
Q+A is live from Melbourne on Monday, February 20 at 9.35pm AEDT.
On the Panel
-
Jelena Dokic has had a storied and well-documented life and tennis career both on and off the court. She now pours her efforts into tennis commentary and motivational speaking on topics including resilience, mental health and empowerment.
-
Narelda Jacobs is a Whadjuk Noongar woman from Perth. She’s been a journalist at Network 10 since 2000, spending 19 years in the Perth newsroom before heading to Studio 10 in Sydney.
-
Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 as the Member for Greenway in North West Sydney.
-
David Coleman was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Communications in February 2023. He was elected to the House of Representatives as the Federal Member for Banks in September 2013.
-
Imogen Senior is a student, researcher, workshop facilitator and youth advocate. She has been a Youth Activist with Plan International Australia since 2020, where she campaigned for safety for women and girls in online spaces through the ‘Free to Be Online’ campaign.