On this episode of Democracy Sausage , London-based regular guests Bevan Shields and Elizabeth Ames join Mark Kenny to discuss the British Government’s decision to lift COVID-19 restrictions with the prime minister self-isolating and case numbers soaring. Is the United Kingdom’s decision to end COVID-19 restrictions in England a moment to celebrate or a dangerous experiment? With masks now optional, what are the ethical responsibilities for individuals in a situation where case numbers are skyro...
Jul 20, 2021•48 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , eminent strategic studies expert Hugh White joins Mark Kenny to examine Australia’s strategy for dealing with rising tensions between the United States and China and the prospect of armed conflict in the region. For decades Australian leaders have said the country doesn’t need to choose between its history and its geography - between the United States and China - but has this position now been abandoned? Is the Chinese Government making an example of Austra...
Jul 13, 2021•1 hr
After a week of finger pointing between the federal government and some of Australia’s states and territories over COVID-19 management and the vaccine rollout, Mark Kenny speaks with federalism scholar Tracy Beck Fenwick and media expert Margaret Simons about how the federation is functioning. Is the sense of national unity between the federal government and the states and territories, perhaps best demonstrated through the early days of the National Cabinet, now gone? Is federalism the problem i...
Jul 06, 2021•56 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , China experts Yun Jiang and David Goodman join us to discuss the 100-year history of the Chinese Communist Party and what it might reveal about the country’s present and future. On 1 July 2021, China will mark 100 years of the Communist Party (CCP). So how has the party evolved from its formation through to the present day? Why is Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government seeking to eliminate alternative versions of history that challenge the official party...
Jun 29, 2021•50 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , academic and author Andrew Scott joins us to discuss the effective, progressive social and economic policies of the Nordic countries and how they might work in Australia. Australian policymakers tend to look to the United States and the United Kingdom as examples, but should they be looking further afield? Europe’s Nordic countries perform strongly on a wide range of social and economic indicators and Andrew Scott, Professor of Politics and Policy at Deakin...
Jun 22, 2021•48 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , political correspondent Karen Middleton, diplomacy and Afghan politics expert William Maley, and gender equity advocate Virginia Haussegger join Mark Kenny to discuss Australia’s nearly two decades in Afghanistan. Two years into the war in Afghanistan, United States President George W Bush said it was “mission accomplished”. But nearly two decades after the September 11 attacks, the Taliban has negotiated a favourable agreement with the United States and Au...
Jun 15, 2021•50 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Scott Ludlam, former Greens Deputy Leader and author of the new book Full Circle: A search for the world that comes next , joins Mark Kenny to discuss what he learnt from his time in politics and Australian climate policy. What role do corporate and private interests play in shaping Australian policy-making? Will the country make changes to political donation rules to make the system more transparent? And how can Australia make meaningful progress on climat...
Jun 08, 2021•51 min
On this special episode of Democracy Sausage for National Reconciliation Week, Virginia Marshall, Peter Swanton, and Tahlia King from The Australian National University join us to discuss why Australia needs to have uncomfortable conversations about its past in order to achieve genuine reconciliation. Are there examples internationally Australia can look to as it goes through its own truth-telling process? Should all Australians be given the opportunity to learn Indigenous Australian languages? ...
Jun 01, 2021•48 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , former Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force Tracy Smart and economist Quentin Grafton join Mark Kenny to discuss Australia’s vaccine strategy. The Australian Government messaging of ‘stay home, save lives’ in the early days of the pandemic proved to be highly effective, with Australians by-and-large complying with unprecedented nationwide lockdown measures. But with the country’s vaccine rollout hitting a series of speed bumps in recent months an...
May 25, 2021•49 min
Governance expert Mark Evans joins Mark Kenny this week at the Democracy Sausage hotplate to discuss achieving change in Australia’s policy and political landscape, plus Keir Starmer’s struggles as British opposition leader. Has Australia missed an opportunity to adopt a more shared, decentralised decision-making structure through the National Cabinet? Why hasn’t the country seen a stronger push for major policy change in the wake of the pandemic? And after a major by-election loss, why is Unite...
May 18, 2021•52 min
On this special post-budget episode of Democracy Sausage , Mark Kenny speaks to former Federal Opposition Leader John Hewson and tax expert Miranda Stewart. Who are the winners and losers in the federal government’s new budget? What do its assumptions, especially around border closures and the COVID-19 pandemic, suggest about what the future might hold for Australia? And is this a budget that sets the government up for an election this year? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , former Liberal ...
May 12, 2021•48 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Peter Martin and Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny to discuss religion, politics, and the upcoming federal budget. Should national leaders leave their faith ‘at the door’ when making decisions while in office, or is it more important that those leaders articulate how their faith influences their decision-making? What role has religious identity played in Australian politics in contemporary history? And how does the Australian Government plan to achieve its une...
May 04, 2021•48 min
On this special episode of Democracy Sausage , recorded live as part of the ANU/ Canberra Times Meet the Author series, academic, author, and journalist Peter van Onselen joins Mark Kenny to discuss the prime minister’s performance and his new book, How Good is Scott Morrison? What was life like behind the scenes in Australian politics in the early days of the COVID-19 crisis? How has the political system and in particular Prime Minister Scott Morrison engaged with experts and expertise amidst b...
Apr 29, 2021•1 hr 5 min
In the wake of the Biden climate summit, researchers Emma Aisbett and Frank Jotzo join Mark Kenny to discuss climate policy in Australia and around the world on this episode of Democracy Sausage . What does growing ambition to reduce carbon emissions in the United States and elsewhere mean for Australia? How concerned should Australian policymakers be about the prospect of the imposition of carbon tariffs? And how can the Australian Government support communities to transition away from the carb...
Apr 27, 2021•45 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , acclaimed journalist and author Stan Grant joins Mark Kenny live at The Australian National University to discuss the major challenges facing the world and his new book, With the Falling of the Dusk . What does China’s trajectory mean for Australia and other countries in the region? Will President Joe Biden be able to address the deep structural challenges facing the United States? And why was 1979 such a watershed year in contemporary history? Recorded liv...
Apr 23, 2021•1 hr 1 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , eminent economist Ross Garnaut joins Mark Kenny to discuss the choices facing Australian policymakers in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major shock to the Australian economy and, with the crisis dragging on, policymakers face key questions as they try to ensure continued prosperity. Would Australians benefit from the integration of the tax and social security systems? Should Australia rethink its skilled migration policies...
Apr 20, 2021•54 min
On this special episode of Democracy Sausage , former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull discusses the treatment of former Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate, the abandonment of the National Energy Guarantee, and special interests in Australian politics. Is Australia at risk of being seen as a ‘Trumpian government in exile’ because of its unwillingness to do more to reduce emissions? Are moderates in the Coalition being ‘held hostage’ on climate policy by the Murdoch media and those in...
Apr 14, 2021•56 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , North America correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Matthew Knott joins Mark Kenny to discuss President Joe Biden’s initiatives on climate, COVID-19, and infrastructure, and what this means for the political landscape in the United States. After a traumatic period in American politics, a tone of relative calm has returned to the United States. Now providing millions of vaccines a day, how is the country’s COVID-19 response tracking? Is new...
Apr 08, 2021•44 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Mark Kenny is joined by epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws and head of ANU Australian Studies Institute Paul Pickering to discuss the pace of Australia’s vaccine rollout and how it can be improved. An international leader in infection control during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia now seems to be falling behind other nations in its vaccine rollout. Why isn’t Australia hitting its vaccination targets? Is a return to politics-as-usual holdin...
Apr 06, 2021•51 min
On this landmark episode of Democracy Sausage , Mark Kenny is joined by Marija Taflaga, Chris Wallace, and Sarah Ison to discuss the reshuffle of the Australian Cabinet and women in parliament. Will the Cabinet reshuffle lead to better outcomes for women in Australia? Why hasn’t the government re-introduced gender budgeting? And will the Coalition look to introduce gender quotas? On the 150th episode of Democracy Sausage , Professor Mark Kenny chats with Associate Professor Chris Wallace from th...
Apr 01, 2021•51 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , researchers Rebecca Colvin and Jamie Pittock join Mark Kenny to discuss Australian attitudes to climate change, how they influence people’s voting patterns, and Australia’s increasingly severe weather events. Was the so-called climate election of 2019 lost, or simply never fought? Will a shock event like the recent floods in New South Wales, or Australia’s Black Summer a little over a year ago, change the way people vote? And what will more frequent and mor...
Mar 30, 2021•46 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Independent Member of Parliament Helen Haines joins Mark Kenny to discuss her plan for renewable energy in regional communities and integrity in Australia’s parliament. How can the Australian Government both harness and support the development of renewable energy for the benefit of regional communities? How can local communities be given a level of ownership over their energy supply? And what changes need to be made to ensure that Parliament House is a safe...
Mar 23, 2021•39 min
On this Democracy Sausage , Gunnai Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman and Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe joins Mark Kenny to discuss truth-telling, the right to self-determination, and the idea of a black caucus. What changes need to occur for Australia’s First People to achieve self-determination? Will the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission in Victoria put pressure on the Federal Government to begin a truth-telling process? And is Australia’s Parliament ready for a treaty? On this episode of Democracy S...
Mar 18, 2021•39 min
On the new Democracy Sausage , the ‘airport economist’ Tim Harcourt and China scholar Jane Golley join Mark Kenny to discuss the Quad leaders meeting, geoeconomics, and what it all means for Australia. What does the first ever Quad leaders meeting indicate about President Biden’s approach to China? Are calls for exporters to diversify away from China realistic for smaller Australian producers who’ve spent decades building relationships in the country? And how should Australian leaders be respond...
Mar 16, 2021•51 min
On this Democracy Sausage Extra , Europe correspondent Bevan Shields and COO of Atalanta Elizabeth Ames join Mark Kenny to discuss the status of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, the unfolding royal family train wreck, and Mathias Cormann’s bid to become OECD head. With small freedoms set to return and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout well under way, the British Government has set 21 June as the earliest date the country will see all restrictions on social contact lifted. But is that timeline realisti...
Mar 11, 2021•41 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Mark Kenny is joined by China experts Yun Jiang and Graeme Smith to discuss Chinese politics, and the country’s relationships with the United States and Australia. How will relations between China and the United States progress under the new Biden administration? Is the proposal by a Chinese company to build a new fishing hub in Papua New Guinea a security threat to Australia or a case of confirmation bias on the part of Australian commentators? What impact...
Mar 09, 2021•45 min
On this Democracy Sausage Extra , Peter Martin joins Mark Kenny to discuss why the COVID-19 recession has presented Treasurer Josh Frydenberg with the chance to permanently reduce unemployment. Is it possible for Australia to permanently lower its unemployment rate to around 3.5 per cent? What can policymakers learn from the last recession, after which the country was able to dramatically reduce inflation? And how bold is Treasurer Josh Frydenberg willing to be in pursuit of what could be a once...
Mar 04, 2021•48 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Quentin Grafton and Sharon Friel join Mark Kenny to discuss Australia’s vaccine rollout and dealing with the country’s ongoing healthcare challenges. While the COVID-19 vaccines approved in Australia are safe, will the government’s current plan provide the necessary herd immunity to allow borders to open? What public health policies will likely have to remain even after the vaccination rollout? And how can governments ensure there is greater equity in Austr...
Mar 02, 2021•51 min
On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Liz Allen joins us to discuss social security, living with scarcity, and whether Australia needs a reset in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. What impact does the ‘othering’ of people experiencing disadvantage have on Australia’s most vulnerable citizens? Why does Australians’ postcode have such an impact on their health outcomes? And what demographic changes is the COVID-19 pandemic bringing about around the world? On this week’s Democracy Sausage Extra , D...
Feb 25, 2021•49 min
Last week Australians woke up to a bizarre state of affairs - Facebook without any news. On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Shirley Leitch and Paul Pickering from ANU Australian Studies Institute join Mark Kenny to discuss the stoush between Facebook and the Australian Government. What does Facebook’s decision to restrict the ability of its users to post and read news in Australia mean for ordinary people and their participation in public debate? Is this a case of Australians being stuck in ...
Feb 23, 2021•42 min
