The summer bushfires have shocked Australia and the world. Q+A returns with new host Hamish Macdonald for an important conversation in Queanbeyan about how these communities are recovering and what they want from our leaders. Joining him live from Bega are: Kristy McBain, Mayor of Bega Valley Shire; Andrew Constance, Member for Bega; Victor Steffensen, Indigenous fire practitioner; Cheryl McCarthy, Far South Coast Director, Surf Life Saving NSW; Michael Mann, renowned US climate scientist; and Jim Molan, Liberal Senator for NSW.

2020 brought us drought, bushfires and the chaos of a pandemic. COVID and the accompanying recession has changed the world, and all of us - in some ways for the worse, and in some for the better. All against a backdrop of the most extraordinary US Presidential election in living memory, and an alarming deterioration in our relations with China. Joining Hamish Macdonald to reflect on the events of the past year are: Jimmy Barnes, Rock legend and author; Kristy McBain, Labor Member for Eden-Monaro; Michael Yabsley, Former NSW Liberal MP; Rita Therese, Sex worker, artist and writer; and Lavina Lee, International relations expert.