Education Minister Christopher Pyne was on the panel alongside the Opposition’s Penny Wong, US comedian Ruby Wax, musician Michael Franti and Nobel prize-winning astrophysicist Brain Schmidt.

Ms Wax, who has spoken publicly about her battle with depression, said there was still a stigma around mental illnesses.

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“Any other disease you can see, but 2015 everyone think (depression’s) an act of imagination,” Ms Wax said.

Mr Pyne said mental illness “was not a laughing matter”.

“We shouldn’t be laughing about it,” Mr Pyne said.

“Mental illness is not rational. It is hard to describe how people react in these kind of situations.

“Obviously we have to get help to them as early as possible so they don’t do something terrible like what’s happened recently in France and every suicide bomber, of course, is a tragedy.”

.@cpyne, @rubywax & @michaelfranti discuss mental health research & the impact on the community #QandA http://t.co/Iv4WFyel8R

— ABC Q&A (@QandA) March 30, 2015

“Any other disease you can see, but 2015 everyone think (depression’s) an act of imagination.” @Rubywax http://t.co/HkPXqSmAXr #QandA — news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) March 30, 2015

Meanwhile, the discussion turned to drug addiction, particularly ice, with a former police officer in the audience saying the county had “failed” at tackling the heroine problem, and asking how the government was going to combat ice.

Rock star Mr Franti said: “There’s never a point where you’ve lost the battle with an addict”.

He likened it to the US reponse to crack cocaine.

The panel also threw opinions around on the tertiary education fee debate, with Ms Wong taking a swipe at Mr Pyne and the Abbott Government’s university system.

“It doesn’t have accessibility and equity at its core,” Ms Wong said.

“We need to change (uni fees). But we need a framework we can agree on,” Mr Schmidt added.  

#qanda Without Gonski, Christopher, you are not expanding opportunity for anyone. — Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) March 30, 2015

Labor and The Greens need to come to the table on education reform. Otherwise we risk getting nowhere #qanda — Teddy Mercer (@TeddyMercer) March 30, 2015

Question: Isn’t it true that you’re the wrecker? to @SenatorWong. “Gold Star!” @cpyne http://t.co/i4XtgTzxL6 #QandA pic.twitter.com/wnnAkmKezV — news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) March 30, 2015

Pyne and Wong still behave like they’re in university politics, but only Wong holds the same view on funding as she did back then. #qanda — ABC News Intern (@ABCnewsIntern) March 30, 2015