As we near the halfway point of the election campaign, this week Q+A is live from Australia’s fastest growing city, Brisbane. Thirteen people lost their lives in the devastating February floods and record-breaking rains impacted tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the city, with the final clean-up bill still not yet known. How is the city recovering and what more needs to be done to help residents and businesses get back on their feet?

We’ll also discuss the ongoing cost of living crisis with consumer inflation soaring to the highest level in 20 years. Consumer prices jumped 2.1 per cent in the three months to March, taking the annual inflation rate to 5.1 per cent. Could we see a pre-election interest rate rise as soon as next week? How are these inflationary pressures impacting you and your household?

Meanwhile national security remains a key campaign issue and this week the focus is on the threat of China in the Pacific. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says a Chinese naval base in the Solomon Islands would be a “red line” for Australia, while Defence Minister Peter Dutton says Australians “need to prepare for war”. Meanwhile, Labor is promising more money for aid, military training and surveillance flights in the Pacific, if elected. What are the consequences for Australia and the world? How much does this issue matter to you?

And cracks in the Coalition’s commitment to climate action are starting to show, with Nationals Senator Matt Canavan telling the ABC the Coalition’s net zero by 2050 target was "dead." Fellow Nationals MPs say the Senator's views are not helpful, with one telling him to “pull his head in.” The Prime Minister says Senator Canavan’s views are not the government's position.

All this, plus the news of the week – join us for an important discussion.   

Joining Stan Grant on the panel:

Stuart Robert, Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business
Anika Wells, Labor MP for Lilley
Campbell Newman, Former Queensland Premier and Senate candidate
Larissa Waters, Greens Senator
Caitlin Byrne, Director, Griffith Asia Institute

Please submit a question via our website by 9am Thursday for the chance to ask the panel. 

Scroll down to watch Thursday's toughest question asked by Bronwyn Dendle from Biloela, who wanted what it will take for the Government to allow the Nadesalingam to return to the community. 👇

Watch Q+A Thursday at 8.30pm on ABC TV, streamed live 8.30pm AEST on ABC iview or on our website.