Australians are heading to the polls in a few short months and the unofficial election campaign is well and truly underway. A host of high-profile independent candidates are hoping to disrupt the electoral map by standing against senior sitting MPs across the country. Many are campaigning for more transparency over political donations, however questions are being asked about the funding behind the grassroots campaigns that aim to secure independents a coveted crossbench seat. Are we seeing democracy in action or just another tightly coordinated campaign? 

Meanwhile, noisy anti-vaccine protestors have travelled from far afield to voice their anger outside Parliament House in Canberra. How will this disaffection play out at the ballot box? What’s influencing the vote of the broader electorate and are these voices being heard in the national conversation?

And overseas tensions in Ukraine are at breaking point as the world awaits Russia’s next move. Russian President Vladimir Putin has more than 100,000 troops amassed near the Russia - Ukraine border, prompting countries including Australia to evacuate embassies ahead of an expected invasion. Are we at the end of the diplomatic road as the region teeters on the brink of war? What are the global security implications? 

Political campaigns, international posturing and protests – we’ll cover this and more on Q+A.

Joining Stan Grant on the panel:

Chris Bowen, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy 
Andrew Constance, Liberal candidate for Gilmore 
Allegra Spender, Independent candidate for Wentworth 
Lavina Lee, International Relations Expert 
Greg Sheridan, Foreign Editor, The Australian 

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

Each week, Q+A selects our top question to highlight in the newsletter.

Scroll down to watch Thursday's toughest question asked by Jen Van-Achteren, who asked why Labor chose to support the government’s religious discrimination bill. 👇

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