Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny
293 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsMark Kenny takes a weekly look at politics and public affairs with expert analysis and discussion from researchers at The Australian National University and beyond.
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Episodes
Calming tensions with Bob Carr
April 16, 2024 23:07 - 42 minutes - 58.5 MBFormer 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...
The face of the nation
April 10, 2024 00:43 - 45 minutes - 63.1 MBElise 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...
Population panic
April 02, 2024 09:10 - 53 minutes - 73.6 MBDemographer 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 abou...
Advance Australian elections fair with Zali Steggall
March 26, 2024 09:00 - 54 minutes - 74.6 MBIndependent 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 group...
The danger of lost hope
March 19, 2024 08:18 - 48 minutes - 67.2 MBInternational relations scholar Charles Miller joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the conflict in Ukraine and Putin’s ‘re-election’. Are Ukraine’s international supporters in the United States and Europe losing hope in holding off Russia’s advances and achieving peace? If Trump is elected, where will Ukraine source much needed aid? And, after Putin has been re-elected for another six years, why do autocrats bother with elections at all? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr Charles Mill...
The United States’ election year ahead
March 12, 2024 07:48 - 51 minutes - 70.5 MBDennis Quinn and Paul Pickering join us to cast their early predictions on the 2024 US election. What can Australia expect from this year’s US election, and how may their campaigns infiltrate our own political landscape? What do economic polling models suggest and how will other key issues impact the way people vote? And, most importantly, can we already forecast the winner at the end of the long campaign? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dennis Quinn, visiting from Georgetown Univers...
Having it both ways
March 06, 2024 09:38 - 53 minutes - 73.2 MBStrategic studies expert Hugh White talks Australia's defence situation, arguing our political leaders are out of step with the rest of the region. How can we best spend our tax dollars to ensure that Australia's defence capabilities are 'fit for purpose'? What politics internationally and closer to home, are impacting Labor's decisions on shipbuilding and defence? And with the recent ASEAN-Australia special summit in Melbourne, do our leader see eye to eye with the region and each other on...
Saving the Australian dream
February 27, 2024 08:10 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MBMark and Marija discuss Scott Morrison's exit from politics, before housing affordability campaigner Maiy Azize joins us to propose solutions to Australia's housing crisis. Will Australia's political leaders have the ambition and ability to sell substantial housing policy changes to the public? What might a fairer system look like? And how will Scott Morrison fashion his career post-parliament? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Maiy Azize, author of a new report recommending changes to ...
Israel, Gaza and the crisis in the Middle East
February 20, 2024 06:37 - 50 minutes - 69.4 MBMiddle East expert Ian Parmeter joins Mark Kenny to explain what is going on in Gaza – including the context for the current conflict and where to next? In light of the recent Israeli declaration of a 10 March deadline for the return of all hostages, how can negotiations looking to de-escalate the violence in Gaza move forward? What would a strategic victory look like for any of the actors? And what happens next? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Middle East expert Ian Parmeter, from t...
Do unto others
February 13, 2024 06:14 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MBHistorian Paul Pickering joins Mark and Marija to break down what can be learnt from the leadership merry-go-round of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison years. What do the insider accounts from the Coalition governments of 2013 to 2022, captured in the ABC series Nemesis, reveal about the realities of federal politics? How can ambitious policy be delivered amidst the soap opera of leadership changes and infighting? And why are women so often on the periphery of political power in Australia rathe...
Dangerous allies
January 30, 2024 11:07 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBMark Kenny and Marija Taflaga discuss the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison years, stage three promises and the risk of a regional conflict erupting in the Middle East. Will the government see any major electoral backlash after its decision to change the stage three tax cuts? What did we learn about the inner workings of Tony Abbott’s prime ministership from the latest ABC documentary on the Coalition government? And with tensions at boiling point, will we see a major regional conflict erupt in ...
The fourth annual Democracy Sausage Awards
December 19, 2023 04:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBDust off the tux and bring out your ballgown – it’s the fourth annual Democracy Sausage Awards. Who performed the most flagrant and self-interested political backflip? What was the risible explanation for a government or political failure? And who shone brightest at home and abroad as the most effective political leader? On the final episode of Democracy Sausage for 2023, Professor Frank Bongiorno joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to announce this year’s winners of the highl...
Media reform and hate speech on campus with Brian Schmidt
December 12, 2023 01:05 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBOutgoing ANU Vice-Chancellor Brian Schmidt joins Mark Kenny to discuss media reform, hate speech on campus and the expansion of the universe. How can Australia have a functioning democracy when public trust in media – an institution that exists to keep governments accountable – is lower than trust in government itself? Why did three American university leaders get tied up in knots answering a question on hate speech? And what has been the most difficult part of running a major university d...
Troubled waters
December 05, 2023 11:06 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBOn this Democracy Sausage, Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga discuss the trajectory of the Albanese government after a challenging year at the helm. Why is immigration such a treacherous issue for Labor politically? Will there be any imminent relief from the economic headwinds that have been buffeting Australians – and their government? And can Anthony Albanese keep the ship on an even keel in 2024? Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga reflect on a turbulent year in federal politics on th...
Divided nation – the Voice vote explained
November 27, 2023 23:00 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBResearchers Nicholas Biddle and Valerie Cooms join the show to discuss new research on the referendum and why it was rejected at the polls. Why did so many Australians vote against the Voice to Parliament referendum? How did people’s perceptions change throughout the campaign? And what does the data reveal about the way forward for reconciliation in Australia? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Nicholas Biddle and Professor Valerie Cooms join Mark and Marija to examine new rese...
Hurry up and wait – negotiating the climate crisis
November 21, 2023 09:22 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBClimate negotiator George Carter and climatologist Janette Lindesay join us to discuss the upcoming COP28 discussions in Dubai and a joint Australia-Pacific bid to host the 2026 conference. The climate is in dangerous territory as the globe prepares to meet in Dubai for the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). So, what’s on the table in this year’s discussions? And will any new commitments be enough to keep people safe? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr George Carte...
Bob Hawke’s complex legacy
November 14, 2023 10:47 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBAuthor and columnist Troy Bramston joins us to talk about the legacy and government of Bob Hawke, 40 years after his rise to the prime ministership. Why does Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regard the Hawke government as a model for modern Labor? Would Hawke’s consensus-based approach be effective in a contemporary political environment? And what were his major regrets from his time in office? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, author of Bob Hawke: demons and destiny, Troy Bramston, join...
Responsibilities to protect
November 07, 2023 09:32 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBNewly appointed United Nations rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Saul joins Mark and Marija to discuss the Israel-Gaza conflict. How does international humanitarian law apply to the Israel-Gaza conflict? What responsibilities do all parties have to protect civilians? And with influential voices both inside and outside of Israel calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step aside, will his government last beyond the current crisis? On this episode of Democracy S...
Who runs the world?
October 31, 2023 04:00 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBJournalist and broadcaster Hamish Macdonald joins us to discuss the stories behind some of the world’s most influential leaders. Who's the most powerful woman in the world right now? Can Joe Biden be an effective antidote to populism and demagoguery in the United States? And is Volodymyr Zelenskyy living proof that an individual leader can have major influence over the course of history? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, ABC journalist Hamish Macdonald joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr ...
Failure to launch
October 24, 2023 09:54 - 52 minutes - 47.7 MBPolitical communications expert Andrea Carson joins Mark and Marija to discuss the performance of the media during the Voice referendum and why the ‘yes’ campaign struggled to get off the ground. How did support for the Voice fall 20 per cent in a year? Was a failure to agree on effective, targeted messages in early 2023 the reason for the ‘yes’ campaign’s downfall? And were journalists too focused on providing equal airtime to both sides of the debate and not proactive enough in calling...
Where did it all go wrong for the ‘yes’ campaign?
October 17, 2023 09:13 - 53 minutes - 49 MBOn this episode, referendums expert Matt Qvortrup and social researcher Nicholas Biddle join us to examine the Voice referendum result. How important was the lack of bipartisanship to the outcome of the referendum? Could the government have done more to convince opposition leader Peter Dutton to support the proposal? And is the emphatic ‘no’ vote a sign of the Liberals’ rising stock, or will elements of the campaign backfire on the party at the next election? On this episode of Democ...
Learning to listen
October 10, 2023 09:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBJulian Leeser and Bridget Archer join us on this episode to discuss the media’s performance during the Voice referendum and the “dishonourable” argument underpinning the ‘no’ campaign. What impact will the Voice to Parliament have on the gaps in life expectancy and a range of other measures between First Nations people and the general Australian population? Why is the Voice the proposition being put to the Australian people at this referendum, rather than another form of constitutional ...
Saying yes to change with Pat Dodson
October 03, 2023 08:44 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBOn this episode, Senator Pat Dodson joins us to talk about the Voice, why it’s important for improving outcomes for First Nations people and the consequences for the country if the amendment fails. Why is a Voice to Parliament, rather than constitutional recognition alone, the proposal being put to the Australian people at this referendum? What would be the process to design the legislation, should the amendment be agreed to on 14 October? And what would the failure of this proposal mea...
Daniel Andrews, the master of lounge room politics
September 27, 2023 10:58 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBWe discuss the resignation of Daniel Andrews and boundaries for bureaucrats on this episode of Democracy Sausage. How did former Victorian leader Daniel Andrews gain a national profile like few premiers before him? Where should the line be between bureaucrats and politics? And can the Yes campaign turn public opinion around before referendum day? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr Marija Taflaga and Professor Mark Kenny discuss Daniel Andrews’ political legacy, the inquiry into senio...
The “horrible irony” of the Voice campaign
September 21, 2023 11:00 - 56 minutes - 51.6 MBAuthor and academic Julianne Schultz joins Mark and Marija to discuss the media coverage of the Voice campaign and the importance of understanding Australia’s history. What impact has the Coalition’s decision to oppose the Voice to Parliament had on the media’s coverage of the referendum? Why has the debate around the Voice not led to a deeper discussion about Australian history? And how has the No campaign seemingly chipped away at broad public support for the Voice over recent months?...
Is Putin losing his grip on power?
September 12, 2023 05:00 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MBRussia expert Derek Hutcheson joins us to discuss the reasons for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political longevity and whether his power is finally on the slide. What impact did the economic chaos in Russia in the decade leading up to Vladimir Putin’s ascension to the presidency have on his political career? Will the suspicious death of his former ally Yevgeny Prigozhin have an impact on Putin’s ability to keep Russia’s powerful elites onside? And will it be generational change ra...
Hangovers and hard landings
September 05, 2023 09:37 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBResearchers Nicholas Biddle and Intifar Chowdhury join us to discuss the impact of the inflation crisis on Australians’ wellbeing and their attitudes to politics. What impact is inflation and rising interest rates having on the financial and psychological wellbeing of Australians? With over 30 per cent of people finding it difficult to get by on their current income, are voters likely to start pointing the finger at the current government for the state of the economy? And will the tougher e...
The echidna strategy with Sam Roggeveen
August 29, 2023 06:53 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBSam Roggeveen from the Lowy Institute joins us on this episode of Democracy Sausage to discuss Australia’s search for power and peace in the Indo-Pacific. What is Australia’s biggest asset when it comes to defending against a rising China? Have the economic arguments made in favour of AUKUS been over-egged by the federal government? And how far should Australia go to protect Taiwan’s democracy? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Director of the Lowy Institute’s International Security Pro...
The Voice with Megan Davis and George Williams
August 24, 2023 05:10 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBMegan Davis and George Williams join Mark Kenny live on campus to talk about Australia’s constitution and their new book, Everything you need to know about the Voice. Some critics of the Voice argue it would “introduce race” into the constitution, but is racial discrimination in fact a significant factor in the document and its history? Has the government dropped the ball by not running a civic education campaign in the lead-up to the referendum? And why is Australia’s colonial history not ...
Saying the quiet part out loud
August 22, 2023 07:05 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBFrank Bongiorno and Liz Allen join us to discuss the political challenges facing the Labor Party in the wake of its national conference and the upcoming Intergenerational Report. How damaging is internal criticism within the Labor Party around the leadership’s positions on issues like AUKUS and climate change? How has Anthony Albanese adapted as a leader on the path to the prime ministership and while in office? And what might the next Intergenerational Report reveal about who we are and wh...
Labor’s AUKUS moonshot with Bob Carr
August 16, 2023 09:11 - 51 minutes - 71.4 MBFormer foreign minister Bob Carr joins Mark Kenny to talk about AUKUS, Julian Assange and the Australian government’s language around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ahead of the Labor Party’s national conference. Is Australia acting against its own national interests through the AUKUS deal and other defence agreements being struck with the United States? Should the Albanese government be more vigorous in its support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange? And what is the prospect of a two-s...
Cartel country
August 08, 2023 08:31 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBIndependent Member of Parliament Kate Chaney joins us to discuss how to make Australian politics more transparent and ways to level the playing field for new and independent political actors. Are political parties writing the rules to protect their own interests rather than those of the Australian public? Why can governments still run expensive, taxpayer-funded advertising campaigns in the lead-up to elections? And how can political donation laws be altered to provide voters with real-time ...
Mugged by reality: climate denial in retreat
August 01, 2023 08:41 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBClimatologist Janette Lindesay joins the show to discuss whether climate denial is finally on the decline and the science behind our increasingly severe weather. With unprecedented wildfires in Europe and another hot and dry summer likely in Australia, what’s causing the increasingly intense weather across the globe? Is Australia’s climate denial sector now entering a recession in the face of this new reality? And will the new national anti-corruption commission have a sobering effect on ba...
Dutton’s cul-de-sac
July 25, 2023 09:39 - 58 minutes - 53.2 MBGlobal referendums expert Matt Qvortrup joins us to bust some referendum myths ahead of this year’s Voice vote and to discuss the political implications of the campaign. Is Peter Dutton piling pressure on the government through the Voice campaign or racing towards a political dead end? Do scare campaigns or celebrity endorsements work in referendums? And is Rishi Sunak just trying to 'save the furniture' for the British Conservative Party ahead of the next election? On this episode of Democ...
A non-aligned movement
July 20, 2023 08:17 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBAndrew Leigh joins Mark and Marija to discuss breaking up the Labor Party’s factional ‘duopoly’ on this episode of Democracy Sausage. Are Labor’s factions helping or hindering the party’s ability to attract young members? Why is factional power at an all-time high in the party? And how can ‘total factionalism’ be prevented in an era of professional politics and strict party discipline? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr Andrew Leigh MP joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga ...
Getting the message
July 11, 2023 09:26 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBFormer Attorney-General George Brandis joins us to discuss the geographic challenges facing the Liberal Party, referendum politics, and Anthony Albanese’s attendance at NATO. Can moderates regain a foothold in the Liberal Party after the 2022 election defeat? Would releasing an early draft of the Voice to Parliament legislation silence some of the ‘yes’ campaign’s critics? And did Anthony Albanese make the right decision to attend the NATO meeting in Vilnius? Professor George Brandis KC joi...
Trump’s Australia with Bruce Wolpe
July 04, 2023 05:00 - 45 minutes - 42 MBBruce Wolpe joins us to discuss Donald Trump’s impact both in the United States and Australia, and what it would mean if he was re-elected in 2024. How did Trump’s time in the White House change global politics? What has been the impact of ‘Trumpism’ in Australia? And what would it mean for us if he was re-elected? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Bruce Wolpe shares his unique insights into American political history with Professor Mark Kenny. The pair discuss the possible consequences...
Smashing the status quo
June 27, 2023 09:33 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBDavid Speers and Senator Barbara Pocock join us at the barbecue to discuss the PwC scandal, Julia Gillard’s political legacy and the Labor-Greens relationship. Why has the scandal surrounding the misuse of information about multinational tax avoidance measures by some at PwC taken eight years to come to a head? How have public perceptions of Julia Gillard’s prime ministership changed in the decade since she left office? And is the Australian government’s recent contribution to the defence o...
Breaking the housing deadlock with Allegra Spender
June 20, 2023 06:25 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBIndependent member for Wentworth Allegra Spender discusses how a citizens’ assembly might help parliament break through its housing policy impasse. Could bringing a group of regular citizens together to talk through the issues help politicians find common ground on housing policy? Is the ‘Australian dream’ always likely to be connected to home ownership or will the national mythology begin to change? And are the inequities in the housing market having a lasting impact on our democracy? On t...
Out of the shadows
June 13, 2023 11:48 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBWe discuss the Trump indictment and Australia’s intelligence services with John Blaxland and Clare Birgin on this episode of Democracy Sausage. Why is the Australian Signals Directorate, a secretive and seemingly esoteric part of the Department of Defence, becoming increasingly important to Australian society? And why have Australian officials tended to be more secretive than their counterparts in other democracies? Professor John Blaxland and Clare Birgin join Professor Mark Kenny and Dr M...
Rorting the system
June 06, 2023 07:21 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBMark Kenny and Marija Taflaga discuss dodgy grants, a hollowed-out public service and what the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation ruling means for journalism. What impact are ‘sports rorts’ and this week’s revelations about community health grants having on public trust in policy-making? With the government’s reliance on consultants in the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons, can the public service re-establish itself as a source of ‘frank and fearless’ advice? And was the Ben Roberts-Smith ve...
Does Australia need a new COVID-19 strategy?
May 30, 2023 06:59 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBOn this episode of Democracy Sausage, Brendan Crabb and Chris Wallace join us to discuss whether Australian governments have dropped the ball on COVID-19 prevention. With winter approaching and infections likely to rise, what will the human cost of Australia’s current COVID-19 strategy be in the coming months? Why hasn’t Australia seen a concerted public information campaign about preventing infection? And what would it take for governments to start taking the virus seriously again? On this...
The Queen is dead with Stan Grant
May 25, 2023 05:35 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MBOn this special episode of Democracy Sausage, Stan Grant discusses the importance of speaking truth with love, his decision to step away from media and his new book, The Queen is dead. Following his decision to step down as host of the ABC’s flagship Q&A program, Stan Grant spoke in front of a live audience on campus at The Australian National University (ANU). In a powerful conversation with Mark Kenny, he discussed writing his new book in just eight weeks following the death of Queen Eliz...
Can Labor be a long-form government?
May 23, 2023 07:19 - 43 minutes - 40 MBPeter van Onselen joins our discussion on the first year of the Albanese government on the 250th episode of Democracy Sausage. How does the first year of the Albanese government compare to that of its predecessors? Can Labor build a case for major reform over time or, facing a weakened opposition after the 2022 election, do they risk letting the opportunity slip away if they don’t act now? And will Labor run a candidate in the Fadden by-election following Stuart Robert’s retirement? On the ...
Running to stand still
May 16, 2023 09:08 - 49 minutes - 45 MBDemographer Liz Allen and social policy expert Ben Phillips join us to discuss the budget's impact on struggling Australians and the politics of the population debate. What impact will the modest increases to the JobSeeker payment and other benefits have on the lives of people who are doing it tough? Is the federal government doing enough to build the case for more substantial increases in social security spending? And should people be concerned about the impact of a growing population on i...
The politics of a promise
May 10, 2023 06:24 - 41 minutes - 38 MBMiranda Stewart and Peter Martin join Mark Kenny to fire up the barbecue for a sizzling post-budget Democracy Sausage special. The budget may be back in black - albeit briefly - but with a $40 per fortnight JobSeeker increase falling far short of what many experts are calling for, are vulnerable Australians going to slip further into the red? In response to the growing spending pressures on the budget, will the government have a serious conversation about tax reform? And will that extend to...
Is Labor’s long honeymoon over?
May 02, 2023 08:19 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBHistorian Frank Bongiorno joins the show to discuss coronations, consecrations and policy cremations. Poised to deliver its second budget in under a year, is the Albanese government’s post-election honeymoon period finally coming to an end? Can the Liberal Party be a truly ‘broad church’ or is it now beholden to conservatives and the secret Coalition agreement? And will Australians answer Buckingham Palace’s call to swear an oath of allegiance to their new king through their televisions? On...
A budget under fire
April 26, 2023 09:46 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBChief Executive Officer of the Grattan Institute Danielle Wood joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the pressures facing the Australian economy and to preview the May budget. How can the federal government manage the significant pressures on the budget while at the same time supporting those most in need during the cost-of-living crisis? Can Australia let go of its property investment ‘fetish’ and ensure everyone has access to an affordable, decent place to live? And with the JobSeeker paymen...
The Liberal Party’s greatest challenge with Trent Zimmerman
April 18, 2023 08:38 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBFormer Member for North Sydney Trent Zimmerman joins the show to discuss the current direction of the Liberal Party, the demographic challenges the party faces and how it can engage younger voters. With younger Australians now less likely to become politically conservative as they age, can the Liberal Party connect with this changing electorate? Can the remaining moderate members of the Liberal party room effectively influence its direction and reorient it towards the political centre groun...
What now for the Liberal Party?
April 11, 2023 10:43 - 38 minutes - 35 MBOn this episode of Democracy Sausage, Kos Samaras joins Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to discuss how the Australian electorate is changing and the Liberal Party’s declining fortunes at the ballot box. Out of government everywhere bar Tasmania, is the Liberal Party suffering from cyclical changes in politics or are its problems structural? Why is the party struggling to hold onto metropolitan electorates? And with the primary vote for both major parties on the slide, are minority governments...