Valerie Cooms, Virginia Marshall and Shireen Morris join us to reflect on the Voice campaign. As we pass the one-year anniversary of the Voice campaign, we reflect on whether Australians ever truly understood what they were voting for? What derailed the Yes campaign? And how do we grapple with continued the flow-on effects of this failed referendum? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Professor Valerie Cooms, Dr Virginia Marshall and Associate Professor Shireen Morris join Professor Mark Kenn...
Oct 16, 2024•47 min
Brendan Coates and Peter Martin join Democracy Sausage to discuss fixing the housing crisis, negative gearing and capital gains tax. There has been plenty of media coverage about the Labor government asking Treasury to review negative gearing and capital gains tax rules. So how did we get here? What are the political sensitivities and missed opportunities in tackling these housing tax concessions? And would the doom and gloom predictions become reality if changes to negative gearing and capital ...
Oct 09, 2024•45 min
Bruce Wolpe joins us to talk about the US election, October surprises and the strategy and expectations shaping this month on the campaign trail. Can we expect a continuation of the ‘ October surprise ’ tradition in the US election? How will foreign policy conditions, including rising tensions in the Middle East and ongoing war in Ukraine, influence votes? And which way will the swing states swing? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Bruce Wolpe returns to give us the latest from the US elect...
Oct 02, 2024•41 min
Justin Ryan and James Robertson join Democracy Sausage to discuss the rise of the independent, the pressure on the two-party system and how to get the best out of democracy. Is the declining support for a two-party system a good thing? Can the Liberals and Labor adapt to this new environment? And how can we make sure that our community’s best and brightest end up in parliament? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Justin Ryan and James Robertson from think tank, Progressive Action Lab, join Dr...
Sep 24, 2024•47 min
Don Watson joins Democracy Sausage to discuss updates from the US election in this live recording. From debates and assassination attempts to celebrity endorsements, a lot can happen in a short amount of time in politics. What explains the performance-like aspects of this US election campaign? How can Americans come together to mend divisions? And what is the likely outcome of the presidential race? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, author and speechwriter Don Watson joins Professor Mark Ken...
Sep 19, 2024•50 min
Maria Maley joins Democracy Sausage to talk about what can be done to make parliament a less toxic workplace. Who is responsible for controlling bad behaviour in parliament? What norms and traditions make parliament a toxic place for women? And what changes still need to be made? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Dr Maria Maley joins Professor Mark Kenny to talk about making parliaments a safer place for everyone. Maria Maley is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Politics and International ...
Sep 11, 2024•38 min
Philip Martin and Alan Gamlen join Democracy Sausage to talk migration – the politics, narratives and possible solutions. From international student caps to housing, many areas of policy are connected to migration. But what is driving our increasing isolationism post-pandemic – economic factors or powerful narratives about being left behind? How can we adjust our international governance of migration to meet humanitarian needs? And is it possible to manage migration from the middle ground and av...
Sep 04, 2024•53 min
Crikey’s Eric Beecher and academic Denis Muller join us on Democracy Sausage to ask how media should operate when the lines between news, opinion and political campaigning have blurred. What impact have media moguls throughout history had on our politics and democracy? How can business models and governance structures be adjusted to ensure the Australian public is served by good journalism? And how does truth compete with exaggeration in the realm of public discourse? On this episode of Democrac...
Aug 27, 2024•41 min
Nobel laureate and economist Joseph Stiglitz joins Democracy Sausage to talk about the global economy and freedom. In light of the recent court ruling on Google , how can we use economics to drive innovation and efficiencies? Is it possible to make capitalism work better to stop abuses of market power? And how can we allow for freedoms without curtailing the freedoms of others? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , high-profile economist and author Professor Joseph Stiglitz joins Professor Mark...
Aug 20, 2024•35 min
Ian Parmeter returns to discuss increasing tensions in the Middle East with Professor Mark Kenny. How can peace talks take place after the assassination of Hamas leader and chief negotiator Ismail Haniyeh? The assassination, dubbed a “grave escalation” by Hamas officials, has been perceived as Israeli action. Has this demonstration of Israeli power changed the strategic calculus in the region? And what can other nations, including Australia, do to reduce tensions? On this episode of Democracy Sa...
Aug 14, 2024•42 min
Allan Behm joins Mark Kenny to discuss the complexities (and oddities) of the US-Australia relationship. What do the US and Australia have in common? How has Australia’s fear of abandonment influenced diplomatic relations with the US? And how should Australia project confidence and advocate for shared interests? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , international relations expert Allan Behm joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss the US-Australia relationship. This episode was recorded as part of...
Aug 06, 2024•46 min
Library leaders Marie-Louise Ayres and Cathie Warburton join us to discuss the unique role libraries can play in democratic society. What can libraries do to strengthen democracy? How can libraries democratise access to information across polarised media, and digital and cultural divides? And how can we improve civics education while combating misinformation and disinformation? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Dr Marie-Louise Ayres and Cathie Warburton join Professor Mark Kenny to discuss ...
Jul 31, 2024•42 min
US experts Emma Shortis and John Hart, along with historian Frank Bongiorno join Democracy Sausage to talk Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and the changes in the US election race. Biden has backed out of the presidential race, should he have withdrawn earlier? How will likely democratic candidate Kamala Harris change the campaign, the media narratives around Trump and the outcome of the election? And what will this change mean for Australia? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Professor Mark Kenny t...
Jul 24, 2024•51 min
Bruce Wolpe joins us to discuss the Trump assassination attempt, questions about Biden’s leadership and the state of democracy. How will this weekend’s assassination attempt on Trump impact his popularity? Is it game over? With four weeks until the Democratic convention, who do party insiders think is best posed to stop Trump returning to the office, and is it still Biden? And what does this all mean for the health of democracy worldwide? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Bruce Wolpe joins ...
Jul 17, 2024•44 min
Leading international law expert Donald Rothwell joins Democracy Sausage to talk Palestinian statehood, Senator Payman’s resignation from Labor and the moral dimensions of politics. What are the formal and political processes Australia would need to undertake to recognise Palestinian statehood? How would recognition impact Israel’s obligations under international law? And should Labor’s caucus rules on party solidarity be a thing of the past? On this episode of Democracy Sausage Professor Donald...
Jul 10, 2024•49 min
Political strategist John McTernan and Atalanta’s Elizabeth Ames join us to talk about the UK election trail – betting scandals, campaign gaffes and all. What is the mood on the ground in Britain? What are the political narratives influencing the upcoming UK election? And with Labour predicted for a landslide win, what are the perils of a decisive victory? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , political strategist John McTernan and Atalanta’s Elizabeth Ames cut through the spin to unpack Britai...
Jun 29, 2024•46 min
Security expert John Blaxland and physicist Ken Baldwin join us to discuss Dutton’s nuclear plans, politicised debates and poly-crisis. Is it possible to decarbonise through nuclear energy? Does the debate around these complex issues indicate a failure in public discourse? And what does this say about our ability to govern and manage a ‘poly-crisis’? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , John Blaxland and Ken Baldwin join Mark Kenny to discuss crises everywhere, all at once — from energy transi...
Jun 26, 2024•54 min
Journalist and correspondent Nick Bryant joins Mark Kenny to discuss division in the United States of America. What was it like to be in Washington DC after the 6 January insurrection? How did we misinterpret Trump’s narrative? And what are the roots of the conspiracies, division and polarisation that we see in the United States today? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Nick Bryant joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss our misunderstanding of America’s democracy and how it’s resulted in figu...
Jun 19, 2024•51 min
Legal and youth justice expert Faith Gordon joins Mark Kenny to discuss young people, social media and democracy. What should the age of criminal responsibility be? With younger generations becoming more politically engaged, should the voting age be lowered? And how can we make social media safe for young people, without causing civic disengagement? On this episode of Democracy Sausage Associate Professor Faith Gordon joins Professor Mark Kenny to talk about youth engagement, social media and de...
Jun 05, 2024•33 min
This week we are getting back to the building blocks of politics and democracy with philosopher Philip Pettit. How did states form and are they inevitable? Has globalisation changed our perception of states? And how do different approaches to democracy influence their politics? This week on Democracy Sausage , Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Philip Pettit, joins Professor Mark Kenny. Philip Pettit is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the School of Philosophy at the ANU and the L.S....
May 29, 2024•54 min
Join us for a bonus barbecue, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks with Mark Kenny about his first two years in the top job. What’s it really like being Prime Minister of Australia? What lessons did the PM take from the Voice campaign, his recent budget and other key policy agendas? And how can we improve the often partisan state of political discourse in this country? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Anthony Albanese joins Professor Mark Kenny to look back on two years as Australia's...
May 24, 2024•44 min
Economics professor, Sean Turnell, and writer and surgeon, Ma Thida, join us to discuss their experiences as political prisoners and their hopes for Myanmar’s future. Sean Turnell and Ma Thida have both experienced the terror of being locked up in Myanmar. So how did they survive? What do they think were Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s missteps during leadership and prior to the 2021 military coup? And how hopeful are they that democracy may return to Myanmar? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , previ...
May 22, 2024•45 min
For this post-budget special, Elizabeth Ames and Peter Martin join us to break down whether this budget will allow a soft economic landing to cost of living and inflationary pressures. As the government has thrown the switch to spending in this budget, what will the impact be on our economy? How does this budget set up for an upcoming election year? And what are some of the policy inclusions (and exclusions) that are baffling economic experts? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Peter Martin ...
May 15, 2024•45 min
Historian Frank Bongiorno joins us to discuss Scott Morrison, religion and politics, and the history of Labor. What does Scott Morrison’s autobiography reveal about his time as Prime Minister? How have Australian political parties tended to characterise the role of government, unions and religion? And what does the history of the Labor tell us about its future? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , Professor Frank Bongiorno joins Professor Mark Kenny to talk religion, politics and the new editi...
May 08, 2024•54 min
Journalist Lech Blaine joins us to talk Peter Dutton’s Coalition, moving working class voters, and his new essay, Bad Cop. How did Peter Dutton’s experiences growing up in Queensland influence his politics and his conservatism? How successful will he be in his strategy to win outer-suburban and regional seats from Labor? And does he have the political judgement needed to pull the strategy off? On this episode of Democracy Sausage , recorded live, journalist Lech Blaine discusses what makes Peter...
Apr 30, 2024•46 min
Sociologist Mike Savage joins us to talk wealth, inequality and other issues in UK politics. In the pursuit of a truly egalitarian society, what can we learn from the United Kingdom’s race and class wealth divides? Can politicians implement policies around wealth and taxation without being accused of attacking aspiration? And what impact does the uneven growth of wealth have on political engagement and democracy? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, inequality expert Professor Mike Savage joins...
Apr 23, 2024•40 min
Former Foreign Minister and New South Wales Premier Bob Carr joins us to talk about the recent stabbing attacks in Sydney, escalating tensions in the Middle East and Penny Wong's move to recognise Palestinian statehood. What can leaders do to achieve calm and social cohesion following the recent stabbing incidents in Sydney? How likely is an interstate war in the Middle East? And following Penny Wong’s ANU speech, which floated the idea of recognising a Palestinian state, what are the next steps...
Apr 16, 2024•43 min
Elise Stephenson from the ANU Global Institute for Women’s Leadership joins us to ask who gets to represent Australia on the world stage? Governor-General has caused backlash in some quarters of the media, which raises the question, who gets to be the face Australia presents to the world? As we break down barriers in representation, how do inequalities evolve in institutions, online environments and even space? And how does backlash against political actors impact the quality of our policy, demo...
Apr 10, 2024•46 min
Demographer Liz Allen and migration expert Alan Gamlen are talking migration and population, and the fear-based discourse that often surrounds it. Last week we saw an attempt at rushing through immigration legislation, but creating a sense of panic around immigration and population issues has long been a staple of the political playbook. So why is it effective? Where does the common sense lay in how our political class handle the complexities of this debate? And, as we are busy arguing about bor...
Apr 02, 2024•54 min
Independent member for Warringah, Zali Steggall discusses her unusual path to politics and election integrity. Among all the commentary about the ‘teal wave’ in the 2022 federal election, how has the presence of more independent candidates in Australia’s chambers of power changed the status quo of politics? And what more needs to change? In the face of scare campaigns from both major parties, how can we make sure claims made on the campaign trail by candidates or third-party campaign groups are ...
Mar 26, 2024•54 min
