Ben is joined by William Bowe from the Poll Bludger to wrap up the results of yesterday's Western Australian state election, which was a third consecutive landslide victory for Labor. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $8 or more per month. And $8 donors can now join the Tally Room Discord server....
Mar 09, 2025•53 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by John Carey to discuss how you design an electoral system for a new democracy - what factors are most important to producing a healthy and sustainable democracy, and how might those requirements change over time? This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $8 or more per month. And $8 donors can now ...
Mar 04, 2025•27 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Stewart Jackson and Andre Brett to discuss which seats might fall when the Labor vote in the WA state election recedes from the high levels reached in 2021, and how the minor parties might perform under the new Legislative Council electoral system. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $8 or m...
Feb 27, 2025•42 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Martin Drum from the University of Notre Dame to discuss the new electoral system for the Western Australian Legislative Council and to look back at the last four years of WA state politics in the lead up to next month's state election. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $8 or more per mont...
Feb 20, 2025•27 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast Ben was joined by Shaun Ratcliff from Accent Research to discuss the state of play as the federal election year kicks off. They discuss the state of polling, including the MRP polls conducted by Shaun in conjunction with Redbridge throughout 2024. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $8 or more per month. And...
Feb 13, 2025•43 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Leo Puglisi from 6 News and Chris Eddy from Local Government News Roundup to wrap up the Victorian council elections. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. And $5 donors can now join the Tally Room Discord server. This podcast is sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link...
Nov 21, 2024•43 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Alexis Pink from ZZZ to discuss the LNP coming to power in Queensland. We discuss the divide between north and south, the performances of the minor parties and how this new LNP government might differ from the last LNP government. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. And...
Oct 27, 2024•27 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by ACT historian Chris Monnox and Tasmanian psephologist Kevin Bonham to dig into the results of last weekend's ACT election, looking at the narrative, the likely shape of the new government and the close races not yet called. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. And $5 don...
Oct 21, 2024•36 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Andrew Messenger from the Guardian to discuss the final stretch of the Queensland election campaign. We spend most of our time going through the key seats in each region of the state, and the issues that have dominated the campaign. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. A...
Oct 17, 2024•25 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Jasper Lindell from the Canberra Times to preview the upcoming Australian Capital Territory election, with a Labor-Greens government facing the voters after 23 years of Labor government and 16 years of the Greens in the balance of power. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per mon...
Oct 10, 2024•25 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Dennis Atkins to preview the upcoming Queensland state election. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. And $5 donors can now join the Tally Room Discord server. This podcast is sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr pai...
Oct 03, 2024•25 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Leo Puglisi from 6 News to analyse the results of the NSW local government elections. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. And $5 donors can now join the Tally Room Discord server. This podcast is sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link to save 30% off your first mont...
Sep 16, 2024•41 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by the Sydney Morning Herald urban affairs reporter Anthony Segaert to preview the upcoming New South Wales local government elections. We discuss some of the most interesting elections, the impact of the NSW Liberal absence and local party systems. Sorry for the poor quality audio on my end - it seems like the recording connected to the wrong mic. Should still be clear enough. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile...
Sep 05, 2024•32 min•Ep 130•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by the ABC's Thomas Morgan to discuss the results of the NT election. We talk about the CLP's big victory, how northern Darwin has flipped back after being solidly Labor for 23 years, and the rise of the Greens and independents on Labor's left flank. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or mo...
Aug 26, 2024•35 min•Ep 129•Transcript available on Metacast This is a solo episode, where Ben runs through all the key parts of the story of how and where the NSW Liberal Party failed to nominate almost a third of candidates for the NSW local government elections next month, covering the scale of the issue, what may have caused it, how it may affect the political balance in each council, the threat of legal action and what could be done to mitigate these issues for next election. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If yo...
Aug 19, 2024•35 min•Ep 128•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by NT political historian Robyn Smith to preview the upcoming Northern Territory general election. We discuss the seats in play, the events of the last four years and what might be coming on election day. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. This podcast is sponsored by Zen...
Aug 15, 2024•23 min•Ep 127•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Chris Terry-Enescu, British psephologist from the Ballot Box podcast, to discuss the implications of the recent UK general election for the electoral system and the party system. Chris mentioned this book: Electoral Shocks This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. This podcas...
Aug 01, 2024•28 min•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Ferran Martinez i Coma from Griffith University to discuss his research on how election campaigning differs in Spain in districts electing odd or even numbers of representatives. We end up discussing more broadly the unsual impacts odd- and even-numbered district magnitudes impact on elections in Australia, and the ways in which the use of different district magnitudes (big and small) change how an electoral system manifests in both countries. Read Ferran's research on odd and e...
Jul 18, 2024•33 min•Ep 125•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Murray Goot to discuss the two-party-preferred vote: the history of the metric, how it is used today, how it influences how we think about our party system, and whether it still works in the more complex party system we have today. Murray's journal article on the history of the two-party-preferred vote. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free versio...
Jul 04, 2024•28 min•Ep 123•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by William Bowe from the Poll Bludger to discuss the federal redistribution proposals for New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. We discuss the process, what has been proposed, the political impact of those proposals and how it might affect preselections, and why some of the maps are drawn as they are. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free ...
Jun 20, 2024•46 min•Ep 124•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Kevin Elliott, author of the book Democracy for Busy People to discuss the value of importance of designing democratic institutions but are broad, not just deep, and make it easy for all citizens to participate. We also discuss the importance of citizens maintaining "civic skills" that give them the capacity to step in to politics when the need arises, and what institutions can make our democracy something that busy people can be a part of. This podcast is supported by the Tally...
Jun 06, 2024•51 min•Ep 122•Transcript available on Metacast Ben was joined by Ruth McGowan, a candidate mentor and advocate for women in politics. We discussed the trends of increasing numbers of women being elected to public office in Australia, what barriers remain and what work is being done to get more women ready to run for parliament or council. Ruth's book Get Elected (available as a free PDF download) Pathways to Politics Women for Election The costs of (inadequate) councillor remuneration report This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supp...
May 23, 2024•27 min•Ep 121•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Kerryn Baker from the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University to discuss the recent elections in the Solomon Islands, which ended with a new prime minister, if not an entirely new government. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. This podcast i...
May 09, 2024•23 min•Ep 120•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Sofia Ammassari from Griffith University to discuss the upcoming Indian federal election. The world's largest democracy is going to the polls in April, May and June, with Narendra Modi's BJP looking set for a third term in office. We discuss the electoral system, major political issues and the Modi government's recent history. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can lis...
Apr 02, 2024•34 min•Ep 119•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Kevin Bonham to wrap up the Tasmanian state election. We discuss the close undecided races, what might come next for parliamentary negotiations, and what it means for May's upper house election. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. This podcast is sponsored by Zencastr. ...
Mar 25, 2024•29 min•Ep 118•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Maggie Perry from 6 News Australia to discuss the results of council elections and by-elections in Queensland. We mostly focus on the Brisbane City Council results, and also touch on the results of the two state by-elections and other local council elections. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon ...
Mar 19, 2024•25 min•Ep 117•Transcript available on Metacast Ben was joined by William Bowe from the Poll Bludger to discuss the Tasmanian state election. We run through the five state electorates one by one, and discuss what we'll be watching for on election night. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $5 or more per month. This podcast is sponsored by Zencastr. Use my...
Mar 14, 2024•37 min•Ep 116•Transcript available on Metacast Ben is joined by Alexis Pink from community radio station 4ZZZ and Andrew Messenger from the Guardian Australia to discuss the upcoming council elections across Queensland and the two state by-elections to be held on the same day. We discuss the Brisbane City Council campaign and then touch on a number of other interesting council races and the by-elections. Andrew's article about uncontested council races. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this po...
Mar 07, 2024•42 min•Ep 115•Transcript available on Metacast Ben was joined by Stewart Jackson from the University of Sydney and Tasmanian political scientist Mike Lester to preview next month's Tasmanian state election. We discuss the widening field of independent candidates, political events in the last term and the issues around the 25-member House that led to the expansion of the Parliament. We also briefly touch on this weekend's Dunkley by-election. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room’s supporters on Patreon . If you find this podcast worthw...
Feb 25, 2024•40 min•Ep 114•Transcript available on Metacast Ben was joined by this week by Marcus Mietzner from the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the ANU, and the author of The Coalitions Presidents Make , to discuss Prabowo Subianto's clear victory in the first round of the Indonesian presidential election. We discuss how Prabowo won, the shift in votes between 2019 and 2024, and the implications for how Prabowo will govern, as well as Prabowo's relationship with outgoing president Jokowi - past, present and future. You can read the trans...
Feb 18, 2024•32 min•Ep 113•Transcript available on Metacast 
