Veteran journalist Stan Grant will step into the role of permanent host for the ABC's long-running panel show, Q&A.
The Wiradjuri man, who brings decades of experience in news, current affairs and presenting to the position, will begin his tenure with a special broadcast on August 1 from Garma Festival in north-east Arnhem Land.
Grant, who has been vocal about the racism inherent in the Blak experience in Australia, said the event was the perfect occasion to launch the show's latest iteration.
“Garma is a talking place where the nation asks itself hard questions about who we are. It is an honour to take the helm of Q+A from there,” he said.
“Hosting Q+A is a huge responsibility. I feel the weight of the audience’s trust in me and the program. I will approach my role with integrity, decency and humility.”
His appointment marks a return to a regular host, after Hamish McDonald quit from the role last year, prompting a rotating cast to fill the chair while a replacement was found.
Grant, who has worked for Channel 7, CNN and the SBS, returned from an international correspondent position in 2012 to help launch NITV on free to air. He was also previously the Managing Editor of NITV News & Current Affairs.
The show, which sees politicians, activists and thinkers field questions on current affairs from a live audience, was conceived as fostering a greater dialogue between leaders and the general public. At the height of its popularity, the show played a significant role in framing the national dialogue on political issues.
Though the program has suffered a drop in viewership in recent years, the sensitive topics often under discussion still garner noteworthy interactions between panellists and audience.
