ABC Announces David Speers as Host of New National Forum Panel Show
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has confirmed that David Speers, the current host of Insiders, will take the helm of a brand new panel discussion programme called ABC National Forum. This announcement comes just seven months after the broadcaster axed the long-running Q+A programme, which had enjoyed an 18-year run on the network.
New Format Aims to Foster National Conversation
The new weekly show will explore pressing news topics with a format that brings together politicians, experts, and a live studio audience. According to ABC news director Justin Stevens, the programme represents the broadcaster's commitment to facilitating important national conversations and strengthening social cohesion across Australia.
Stevens told staff that the inaugural episode would specifically examine "the lives and experiences of Jewish Australians, including issues arising from the Bondi terrorist attack." He emphasised that "listening to one another is essential to strengthening social harmony and fostering a more cohesive nation."
Return to Town Hall Format
ABC managing director Hugh Marks revealed that the new programme reflects the broadcaster's ongoing responsibility to bring Australians together through meaningful dialogue. "That responsibility is at the core of our role as the national public broadcaster," Marks stated, "and we're proud to continue investing in content and services that serve and connect our community."
Marks had previously hinted at the development of such a programme during senate estimates in December, noting that the ABC needed to return to a "town hall" format that had been lost during Q+A's lengthy tenure. This concept has historical precedent at the ABC, with former managing director Mark Scott advocating for the broadcaster to serve as a "town hall" back in 2009, and incoming chair Kim Williams recently expressing aspirations for the ABC to become a "national campfire."
Speers Brings Experience to New Role
David Speers, who served as one of Q+A's rotating hosts between 2021 and 2023, expressed enthusiasm for his new role. In a press statement, Speers said the show would provide Australians with an opportunity to "come together to share their knowledge and experiences, hear from others and better understand each other."
The new programme represents a significant shift in the ABC's flagship discussion programming. Q+A, which launched in 2007 under executive producer Peter McEvoy and host Tony Jones, had been highly influential in its early years, pioneering the use of live tweets on television screens and consistently generating newspaper coverage.
Transition from Q+A
When announcing the cancellation of Q+A in June, Stevens acknowledged the "loss of talented colleagues" but stressed that the decision was "no reflection on anyone on the show." The programme had undergone several hosting changes in recent years, with Patricia Karvelas taking over in July 2023 after Stan Grant stepped down. Grant had been appointed full-time host in August 2022, following Hamish Macdonald's departure and a period of rotating hosts.
The launch of ABC National Forum marks a new chapter in Australian public broadcasting, with the network seeking to re-establish its role as a central platform for national conversation and democratic engagement through this refreshed panel discussion format.
