This week on Q+A, more pain for households after the Reserve Bank delivered a 12th rate hike in just over a year – taking interest rates to their highest level in 11 years. The bank's governor admits many families will suffer a "painful squeeze", but insists inflation has to be tamed. Just how much more can households bear? And is the cure worse than the disease?

Much of the blame for stubbornly high inflation is being slated home to the lowest-paid workers, after the Fair Work Commission announced an increase in the minimum wage from next month. But according to the OECD, the main culprit is corporate super-profits. Are the most vulnerable paying the price for an unfair system?

Meanwhile, the fallout from the incendiary judgement against Australia's most decorated living soldier Ben Roberts-Smith continues. Should the VC recipient – labelled in court as a liar, murderer and bully – be ordered to hand back his honour? What do his actions in the field mean for diggers at home and serving overseas? Is this case damaging the reputation of our elite soldiers?

And parliament returns for another sitting fortnight as the government's "same job, same pay" workplace law changes are emerging as 2023's big industrial relations brawl. The new laws – designed to ensure labour hire workers are paid the same as employees doing the same job – are being debated as the future housing fund bill nears agreement. Is Labor facing a rough ride for the rest of the year?

Joining Patricia Karvelas on the panel live in Sydney:
 
Sally McManus, ACTU Secretary 
Stephen Jones, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services
Keith Wolahan, Liberal member for Menzies 
Thenu Herath, Human Rights Advocate 
Michael Ware, Sky News US contributor

As the cost-of-living crisis bites, cash-strapped Australians are bracing for yet another interest rate hike after stronger-than-expected job figures. It comes as the government names its new Reserve Bank chief… Michele Bullock has some difficult waters to navigate – so how will she tackle Australia's economic woes?

The UK's Minister for Armed Forces is in Australia and joins the panel. AUKUS has been in the spotlight here, but with the Conservative government in Britain under pressure over high inflation, immigration and its merry-go-round of leaders, is it further down the UK's list of priorities?

Meanwhile, the Yes and No camps have laid out their arguments over the Voice to Parliament referendum, but with the nation seemingly divided over the issue, how can we possibly have the respectful debate that many are calling for?

And is it game over for big sporting events? Victoria's bombshell decision to dump the 2026 Commonwealth Games has drawn both scorn and praise, with Premier Dan Andrews saying it's now out of his state's price range. Amid claims that this will damage Victoria's reputation internationally, in the midst of a slowing economy just how much should taxpayers be expected to pay for elite sport competitions?

Joining Patricia Karvelas in Melbourne for all this plus news of the week:

James Heappey, UK Minister for Armed Forces
Rachel Perkins, Filmmaker
Pat Gorman, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister & Assistant Minister for the Public Service
Barnaby Joyce, Nationals member for New England
Kate Chaney, Independent member for Curtin