Independent MPs Kate Chaney and Zali Steggall join Democracy Sausage to talk campaign finance reform and how it impacts your choice at the ballot box. Will Labor’s election finance reform bill strengthen democracy or give major parties an unfair head start? What do the details of the bill look like? And what does this tell us about major parties an…

Marija Taflaga and Elise Stephenson return to Democracy Sausage to discuss the ripple effects of a new Trump era. What influenced Trump’s decisive win in the US presidential election? Does this signal another global shift toward populist, strongman leaders? And what will this mean for the upcoming election in Australia? On this episode of Democracy…

Former climate change envoy Howard Bamsey joins Democracy Sausage to talk about the expectations and challenges of COP29 post the U.S. election. The climate emergency is at its tipping point as world leaders prepare to meet in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29). But with time for change melting away as q…

Peter Greste joins Democracy Sausage to talk press freedom — what happens when it's taken away and how to protect it. In a world where journalists have their homes and workplaces raided under national security rounds, how can we preserve the public's right to know? With no explicit constitutional right to freedom of expression, how can Australia pr…

Julianne Schultz joins Democracy Sausage to talk about understanding ourselves, wrestling with the past and creating a more inclusive future. What’s behind the silence and lack of post-Voice analysis? How can Australia confront its true history? And how can we modernise our democracy and constitutional processes? On this episode of Democracy Sausag…

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…

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 opport…

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 …

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 b…

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 …

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 …

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 ca…

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 Aust…

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 curta…

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…

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…

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 misi…

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 aro…

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 offic…

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 unde…

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 …

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…

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 epis…

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…

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, …

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 …

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 leade…

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…

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 abou…

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 politi…

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 u…

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 inters…

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 inequali…

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 …

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 fac…

International 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…

Dennis 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 a…

Strategic 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 shipbuil…

Mark 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 Sco…

Middle 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 strateg…

Historian 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 deliver…

Mark 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 fro…

Dust 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 Dem…

Outgoing 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 univer…

On 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…

Researchers 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 i…

Climate 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 ta…

Author 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 w…

Newly 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 c…

Journalist 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 maj…