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 and their willingness to adapt to the rise of the teals?    On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Independent MPs Kate Chaney and Zali Steggall...

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 Sausage, Dr Marija Taflaga and Dr Elise Stephenson return to discuss Trump mark two, the desire for change through populist leaders, and why...

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 quickly as the glaciers, what impact will this year’s negotiations actually have? Do developed countries have a greater responsibility to meet...

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 protect press freedom? And how do we tackle the declining levels of trust in journalism?    On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Peter...

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 Sausage, Professor Emerita Julianne Schultz joins Professor Mark Kenny to talk about the Voice and what Australia could be. Julianne Schultz is...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...