On Monday night's final episode of the eighth season of the ABC panel show Q&A, discussion ranged across budget cuts to the national broadcaster, broken political promises, Rupert Murdoch, youth unemployment and fighting terrorism.
Host Tony Jones only once resorted to the line that has now become part of the popular lexicon - "I'll take that as a comment" - his standard response when an audience member strongly states a position rather than asking a question of the panel.
No-one fainted at the desk in 2014 but it was another eventful year for a program that has become a key Monday night attraction for the ABC. This year, Q&A travelled to Shanghai, Arnhem Land, Penrith, Geelong and Bankstown, as well as presenting editions tailored to coincide with writers' festivals around the country. There were programs focused on economics, AIDS, elders, science and mental health.
Many regular viewers declare that they prefer Q&A when it's a politician-free zone, although a survey of 10 milestone moments from the year suggests that politics looms large even when it's not specifically on the agenda.
1. Taking full advantage of Q&A's live-to-air format, early in May a group of students protesting the federal government's proposed deregulation of university fees unveiled a banner behind the desk and started to chant loudly at Education Minister Christopher Pyne. The broadcast briefly ceased transmission, cutting to a pre-taped musical performance by Katie Noonan while the studio was cleared of protesters.
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2. When questioned about an impending Supreme Court case involving accusations that he used $10 million of Chinese government money to fund his election campaign, Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer said: "The Chinese government wants to bring workers here to destroy our wage system ... They want to take over our ports and get our resources for free ... I don't mind standing up against the Chinese bastards and stopping them from doing it."
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3. During a discussion of racial discrimination laws in March, indigenous academic Marcia Langton accused News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt of "foul abuse" of light-skinned Aboriginal Dr Misty Jenkins. The following week, Tony Jones apologised on behalf of the ABC for broadcasting Langton's remarks.
4. During a special edition on mental health from Rockhampton in October, comedian, actor and writer Josh Thomas looked on in disbelief as the federal member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, declared that gay rights were not a priority given more pressing issues in his electorate. Thomas argued that Katter's denial of the existence of homosexuals in northern Queensland was "kooky" and damaged and disenfranchised members of the community. Thomas then offered to install a Grindr app on Katter's phone.
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5. Author Tara Moss proved an eloquent and impassioned advocate for open discussion of sexual violence, calling for an end to the "toxic silence" that protects predators and shames victims during a Sydney Writers' Festival edition of the show in May.
6. Egyptian activist and columnist Mona Eltahawy observed with incredulity that Australia's minister for women's affairs is the male Prime Minister during a program about human rights at the end of March.
7. Days before announcing additional cuts of $207 million to the ABC in November, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull declared that "anyone who is in business or has been in business ... that could not manage to find five per cent out of efficiencies is not even trying".
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8. Attacking what he sees as the emergence of a lamentable "hating culture" that applauds sneering attacks, comedian and author Ben Elton noted, "Satire without principle is a very toothless animal indeed."
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9. In September, Christopher Pyne became the first panellist to appear 20 times since Q&A's 2008 first season.
10. A persistent fly harassed panellists in the show's final episode for 2014, prompting a tweeter to remark that the ABC can now apparently no longer afford insect spray. The fly persistently buzzed around Holly Ransom (Youth Advocate and Co-Chair G20 Youth Summit) and almost found a friend in American actor James Cromwell, before quietly exiting the stage.
Today's episode of
#qanda is directed by the same guy that did the 'Fly' episode of Breaking Bad. — Denham Sadler (@denhamsadler)
November 24, 2014
Is that actually the fly from charlottes web
#QandA — Jimeóin (@jimeoin)
November 24, 2014
That'll do, fly. That'll do.
#qanda
#JamesCromwell — Prof Kerryn Phelps (@drkerrynphelps)
November 24, 2014
The first thing cut from the ABC was fly spray.
#qanda — Denham Sadler (@denhamsadler)
November 24, 2014
That fly was a Murdoch drone.
#qanda — Andrew Hunting (@AHunting)
November 24, 2014
Budget cuts really have hit ABC hard. Can't even afford fly screens any more.
#qanda — Caroline Marcus (@carolinemarcus)
November 24, 2014
That fly is a spy for Clive Palmer
#conspiracytheories
#qanda — Agent Frightbat (@toninicho)
November 24, 2014
Did Waleed just clap the fly to death?
#qanda — terri psiakis (@terripsiakis)
November 24, 2014
