After a week of finger pointing between the federal government and some of Australia’s states and territories over COVID-19 management and the vaccine rollout, Mark Kenny speaks with federalism scholar Tracy Beck Fenwick and media expert Margaret Simons about how the federation is functioning.Is the sense of national unity between the federal government and the states and territories, perhaps best demonstrated through the early days of the National Cabinet, now gone? Is federalism the problem in these increasingly fractious relationships or just a convenient scapegoat? And what role does the media play in their reporting on COVID-19, especially around misinformation? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Director of the Australian Centre for Federalism Dr Tracy Beck Fenwick and Dr Margaret Simons from the University of Melbourne's Centre for Advancing Journalism join Professor Mark Kenny to discuss these questions and more.Tracy Beck Fenwick is the Director of the Australian Centre for Federalism and Senior Lecturer in the School of Politics in the College of Arts and Social Sciences at The Australian National University.Margaret Simons is an award-winning freelance journalist, author, and Honorary Principal Fellow at the University of Melbourne's Centre for Advancing Journalism.Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, China experts Yun Jiang and David Goodman join us to discuss the 100-year history of the Chinese Communist Party and what it might reveal about the country’s present and future.On 1 July 2021, China will mark 100 years of the Communist Party (CCP). So how has the party evolved from its formation through to the present day? Why is Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government seeking to eliminate alternative versions of history that challenge the official party line? And with the party and its leader focused on control, what might the future hold for the country? On this Democracy Sausage, Managing Editor of the China Story blog Yun Jiang and Emeritus Professor of Chinese Politics David Goodman join Professor Mark Kenny to look back at the history of the CCP ahead of its centenary, and to discuss the future under Xi Jinping.David Goodman is Emeritus Professor of Chinese Politics in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at University of Sydney and in the Department of China Studies at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou. He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.Yun Jiang is a managing editor of the China Story blog at The Australian National University (ANU) and a researcher at ANU Australian Centre on China in World.Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, academic and author Andrew Scott joins us to discuss the effective, progressive social and economic policies of the Nordic countries and how they might work in Australia.Australian policymakers tend to look to the United States and the United Kingdom as examples, but should they be looking further afield? Europe’s Nordic countries perform strongly on a wide range of social and economic indicators and Andrew Scott, Professor of Politics and Policy at Deakin University and co-editor of The Nordic Edge: Policy Possibilities for Australia, says they might hold more lessons for Australian policymakers than many previously thought. On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Scott joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss how the Nordic countries have got it right in so many policy areas, and why they might hold the key to creating a fairer, happier, wealthier, and more environmentally responsible country.Andrew Scott is Professor of Politics and Policy in the Faculty of Arts and Education at Deakin University. His books and articles have been extensively discussed in Australia and overseas and he is the co-editor of the upcoming book Nordic Edge: Policy Possibilities for Australia.Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.The Nordic Edge: Policy Possibilities for Australia is edited by Andrew Scott and Rod Campbell, published by Melbourne University Press, and is available in bookstores from July 2021.Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, political correspondent Karen Middleton, diplomacy and Afghan politics expert William Maley, and gender equity advocate Virginia Haussegger join Mark Kenny to discuss Australia’s nearly two decades in Afghanistan.Two years into the war in Afghanistan, United States President George W Bush said it was “mission accomplished”. But nearly two decades after the September 11 attacks, the Taliban has negotiated a favourable agreement with the United States and Australia has closed its embassy, citing security concerns amidst the withdrawal of Australian and international forces. So what was it all for? And, crucially, what does this mean for the Afghan people? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, journalist and author of An unwinnable war: Australia in Afghanistan Karen Middleton, scholar of Afghan politics Emeritus Professor William Maley, and gender equity advocate Virginia Haussegger join Mark Kenny to look back on Australia’s time in Afghanistan and discuss what the future may hold for the country.Karen Middleton is Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper.William Maley AM is Emeritus Professor at The Australian National University, where he served as Professor of Diplomacy at the Coral Bell School of International Affairs from 2003 to 2021, and Foundation Director of the university's Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy.Virginia Haussegger AM is an award-winning television journalist, writer, and commentator, whose extensive media career spans more than 25 years. She is Chair of the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation and Chief Editor of BroadAgenda at the University of Canberra.Mark Kenny is a Senior Fellow in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Scott Ludlam, former Greens Deputy Leader and author of the new book Full Circle: A search for the world that comes next, joins Mark Kenny to discuss what he learnt from his time in politics and Australian climate policy.What role do corporate and private interests play in shaping Australian policy-making? Will the country make changes to political donation rules to make the system more transparent? And how can Australia make meaningful progress on climate policy? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Mark Kenny speaks with former Greens Senator Scott Ludlam about Australian politics, his new book, and Section 44 of the Constitution.Scott Ludlam was Senator for Western Australia in the Australian Senate from 2008 to 2017, and served as Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens. In May 2021 he authored Full Circle: A search for the world that comes next, published by Black Inc.Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of Democracy Sausage for National Reconciliation Week, Virginia Marshall, Peter Swanton, and Tahlia King from The Australian National University join us to discuss why Australia needs to have uncomfortable conversations about its past in order to achieve genuine reconciliation.Are there examples internationally Australia can look to as it goes through its own truth-telling process? Should all Australians be given the opportunity to learn Indigenous Australian languages? And how are some young Aboriginal scholars working to decolonise their fields? This week on Democracy Sausage, lawyer and legal scholar Dr Virginia Marshall, astrophysicist Peter Swanton, and psychology student Taliah King share their personal stories and professional insights in this special National Reconciliation Week episode. Listen now:  Virginia Marshall is the Inaugural Indigenous Postdoctoral Fellow with The Australian National University (ANU)’s School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) and the Fenner School of Environment and Society.Peter Swanton is an astrophysics graduate from ANU and Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay man from Mackay, Queensland.Taliah King is a final-year psychology student at The Australian National University and a proud Aboriginal woman from the Yuin and Waanyi people.Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.Peter Swanton’s Sky Stories discussion from 2020 is available on YouTube.In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, former Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force Tracy Smart and economist Quentin Grafton join Mark Kenny to discuss Australia’s vaccine strategy.The Australian Government messaging of ‘stay home, save lives’ in the early days of the pandemic proved to be highly effective, with Australians by-and-large complying with unprecedented nationwide lockdown measures. But with the country’s vaccine rollout hitting a series of speed bumps in recent months and the vast majority of the population still unvaccinated, has the government messed up its messaging? How can federal and state governments get the program back on track to ensure the Australian community is protected? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, ANU Crawford School of Public Policy’s Professor Quentin Grafton and Professor Tracy Smart AO, retired Air Vice-Marshall and former Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force, join Professor Mark Kenny to examine Australia’s vaccine rollout.Tracy Smart AO is an Australian physician, medical administrator, and retired Surgeon General of the Royal Australian Air Force. Tracy is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, the Australasian of College of Aerospace Medicine, the Aerospace Medicine Association, and the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies.Quentin Grafton is Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy, Professor of Economics at Crawford School, an ANU Public Policy Fellow, and Editor-in-Chief of Policy Forum.Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Governance expert Mark Evans joins Mark Kenny this week at the Democracy Sausage hotplate to discuss achieving change in Australia’s policy and political landscape, plus Keir Starmer’s struggles as British opposition leader. Has Australia missed an opportunity to adopt a more shared, decentralised decision-making structure through the National Cabinet? Why hasn’t the country seen a stronger push for major policy change in the wake of the pandemic? And after a major by-election loss, why is United Kingdom Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer struggling to cut-through in British politics? On the new Democracy Sausage, Director of the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis at the University of Canberra Professor Mark Evans joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss these questions and more.Mark Evans is Director of Democracy 2025 at the Museum of Australian Democracy and Professor of Governance at University of Canberra.Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special post-budget episode of Democracy Sausage, Mark Kenny speaks to former Federal Opposition Leader John Hewson and tax expert Miranda Stewart.Who are the winners and losers in the federal government’s new budget? What do its assumptions, especially around border closures and the COVID-19 pandemic, suggest about what the future might hold for Australia? And is this a budget that sets the government up for an election this year? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, former Liberal Party leader Dr John Hewson and Director of the University of Melbourne’s Tax Group Professor Miranda Stewart join Professor Mark Kenny to discuss the new federal budget.John Hewson AM is an Honorary Professorial Fellow at Crawford School of Public Policy. He is an economic and financial expert with experience in academia, business, government, media, and the financial system.Miranda Stewart is a Professor at University of Melbourne and Honorary Professor at the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.Mark Kenny is a Professor in the ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Peter Martin and Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny to discuss religion, politics, and the upcoming federal budget.Should national leaders leave their faith ‘at the door’ when making decisions while in office, or is it more important that those leaders articulate how their faith influences their decision-making? What role has religious identity played in Australian politics in contemporary history? And how does the Australian Government plan to achieve its unemployment targets? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, pod regulars Peter Martin and Dr Marija Taflaga join Professor Mark Kenny to discuss religion, identity politics, and the federal budget.Peter Martin AM is a Visiting Fellow at Crawford School of Public Policy at The Australian National University (ANU) and the Business and Economy Editor of The Conversation.Marija Taflaga is Director of ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a lecturer in the ANU School of Politics and International Relations. Her major research is on political parties and particularly the Liberal Party of Australia.Mark Kenny is a Professor at ANU Australian Studies Institute. He came to the university after a high-profile journalistic career including six years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or join us on the Facebook group.This podcast is produced in partnership with The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.