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 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 how to best manage the shifting strategic environment? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Emeritus Professor Hugh White from The Australian National University (ANU) discusses making Australia’s defence ‘fit for purpose’ with Professor Mark Kenny.  Hugh White is an Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at ANU College of Asia and the Pacific.  Mark Kenny is a Professor at 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, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Scott Morrison fashion his career post-parliament? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Maiy Azize, author of a new report recommending changes to tax and investment policies for housing, joins Professor Mark Kenny and Marija Taflaga to discuss the policy and politics of Australia’s housing crisis. Maiy Azize is the Deputy Director of the Anglicare Australia and spokesperson for Everybody’s Home, a national campaign that aims to fix the housing crisis.  Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.  Mark Kenny is a Professor at 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, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au.  This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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 the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, and Professor Mark Kenny discuss the complex, contested, polarising and - in some cases for the West - compromising crisis in the Middle East. Ian Parmeter is a Research Scholar at the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies. Previously, he was Australia’s ambassador to Lebanon and former Assistant Director-General at the Office of National Assessments. Mark Kenny is a Professor at 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, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au.  This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 delivered amidst the soap opera of leadership changes and infighting? And why are women so often on the periphery of political power in Australia rather than the inner circle? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Emeritus Professor Paul Pickering, Dr Marija Taflaga and Professor Mark Kenny discuss the lessons of the nine-year Coalition government. Paul Pickering is an Emeritus Professor and Director of the ANU Australian Studies Institute.  Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.  Mark Kenny is a Professor at 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, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au.  This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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 Middle East? On the first episode for 2024, Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga discuss tax changes, the prime ministerial merry-go-round and the deteriorating global geopolitical environment.Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.Mark Kenny is a Professor at 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, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au.This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professors Frank Bongiorno and Mark Kenny, along with Dr Marija Taflaga, announce the winners of the Democracy Sausage Awards. They discuss political backflips, government failures, and effective leadership. The podcast also explores controversial figures, Trump's return, the government's resistance to broadening the COVID inquiry, and the need for broader representation in international leadership awards.

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 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 during a period that saw a pandemic and catastrophic bushfires, among other serious challenges? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU) Professor Brian Schmidt AC joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss the state of Australia’s media, hate speech on campus and returning to life as a full-time astronomer. Brian Schmidt AC is the Vice-Chancellor of ANU and a Nobel Prize-winning astronomer. Mark Kenny is a Professor at 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.  Send your nominations for our annual Democracy Sausage Awards to democracysausage@anu.edu.au.  Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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 this episode of Democracy Sausage. Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.Mark Kenny is a Professor at 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.Send your nominations for our annual Democracy Sausage Awards to democracysausage@anu.edu.au. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 in Australia? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Nicholas Biddle and Professor Valerie Cooms join Mark and Marija to examine new research on the Voice vote and to discuss what it reveals about the future of reconciliation. Nicholas Biddle is an Associate Director and Professor at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods.Valerie Cooms is a Quandamooka woman and the Director of the ANU Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research.Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.Mark Kenny is a Professor at 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, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au.This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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 Carter and Professor Janette Lindesay join Mark and Marija to discuss gradual improvements in the context of a fast-changing climate. George Carter is Deputy Head of the ANU Department of Pacific Affairs and Director of the ANU Pacific Institute.Janette Lindesay is a climatologist and Professor at the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society.Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Lecturer at the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.Mark Kenny is a Professor at 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, Pocket Casts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to democracysausage@anu.edu.au.This podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.