This week on Q+A … legendary musician Billy Bragg joins the panel and performs a song from his latest album. From folk music to fighting the power, Bragg is well known for combining his music with politics. A champion of the British underclasses – he lived through punk, protested Thatcherism and put himself on the frontline of the miners' strike. So, what does he make of the challenges facing struggling households today?

The Reserve Bank has delivered its tenth consecutive interest rate rise this week, pushing the cash rate to its highest level since May 2012. With inflation still running high, many Australians are facing mortgage stress – the Reserve Bank says it's considering a rate pause but many households are feeling the pain now. Are our political leaders doing enough to address the widening gap between the wealthy and working class?

And we explore whether Australia needs a Human Rights Act? It's a question the federal government is considering, so what should be included? Will some parts of society benefit more than others?

All this plus news of the week – and a special live performance from Billy.

Joining Stan Grant on the panel:

Billy Bragg, Singer-songwriter and activist
Josh Burns, Labor Member for Macnamara
Perin Davey, Deputy Leader of the Nationals
Antoinette Lattouf, Journalist and author
Gigi Foster, Economist, UNSW.

Tonight on Q+A…Indigenous leaders joined an emotional Anthony Albanese to reveal the wording of the Voice referendum question which will be put to the nation. The Prime Minister has appealed to Australians to support the vote, asking: "If not now, when?"
 
The agreed wording of the question follows intense negotiations and reads: "A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration."
 
The announcement comes ahead of South Australia's special sitting of Parliament on Sunday to pass its own First Nations Voice Bill – the first such legislation in the country. The PM is seeking to head off dissent by clearly setting out that the Voice will have no power of veto – but will that be enough to satisfy those opposed to it? And what does the question mean for First Nations sovereignty?
 
Meanwhile, as the fanfare of the announcement subsides, the reality of Australia's submarine deal is sinking in. Critics from within Labor's ranks are voicing their concerns about the deal that some say could end up costing far more than the projected $368 billion. Just what price are we paying for security?
 
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas is celebrating a year in office – he's the only opposition leader who's managed to unseat a Premier during the pandemic. Will NSW follow suit and have a new leader after the weekend's state election?
 
Joining Stan Grant on the panel live in Sydney for all this plus news of the week:
 
Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Health
Peter Malinauskas, South Australian Premier
Jacinta Price, Country Liberal Party Senator for the NT
Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson on Health, Foreign Affairs, Peace, Nuclear Disarmament and Disability Rights and Services
Richard Spencer, Former Secretary of the US Navy