Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

Andrew 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 to discuss the risks of concentrated factional power in the Australian Labor Party.Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury and the Labor Member for Fenner.Marija Taflaga is the Director of the ANU Centre for the Study of Australian Politics and a Senior 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.

Former 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 joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss these questions and more on this episode of Democracy Sausage.George Brandis KC is a former Attorney-General, the recent Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and a Professor in the Practice of National Security at The Australian National University (ANU).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.

Bruce 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 of a Trump second term and Bruce’s new book, Trump’s Australia.Bruce Wolpe is a Senior Fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He worked with the Democrats in the US Congress during President Barack Obama's first term, was a senior advisor for Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and a senior executive at Fairfax Media from 1998-2009. 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.

David 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 of Ukraine coming fast enough? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, host of Insiders David Speers and Greens Senator for South Australia Barbara Pocock AM join Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss the PwC scandal, the treatment of women in parliament and Australia’s assistance to Ukraine.Barbara Pocock AM is a Senator for South Australia and the Greens' Spokesperson for Finance, Employment and Public Sector.David Speers is an award-winning journalist and host of Insiders on the ABC.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.Nominate outstanding ANU graduates for the 2023 Alumni Awards.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.

Independent 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 this episode of Democracy Sausage, Allegra Spender MP joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss how to have a ‘more thoughtful conversation’ about housing in Australia.Allegra Spender is the independent member for the federal seat of Wentworth.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.

We 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 Marija Taflaga to discuss Australia’s intelligence services, their new book, Revealing Secrets, and why it almost didn’t make it to print.John Blaxland is a Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies at ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs and a regular media commentator.Clare Birgin is a former Australian diplomat, who served as Ambassador in Hungary, Serbia, Kosovo, Romania, North Macedonia and Montenegro.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.Nominate outstanding ANU graduates for the 2023 Alumni Awards.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 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 verdict a ‘last gasp’ victory for investigative journalism? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga discuss the issues plaguing Australia’s public service and why the recent defamation ruling in favour of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times might pull investigative journalism back from the brink.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.

On 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 episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Brendan Crabb and Professor Chris Wallace join Mark Kenny to discuss the ongoing impact of the coronavirus crisis.Brendan Crabb AC is an infectious disease researcher, Director of the Burnet Institute and Professor at the University of Melbourne and Monash University.Chris Wallace is a Professor in the School of Politics, Economics and Society at the University of Canberra.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.

On 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 Elizabeth II and the reaction to the ABC’s coverage of King Charles’ coronation. On this special episode of Democracy Sausage, he also shared his experiences growing up “on the other side of history”, racism and the media, and why he’s decided to take a step back from television.This episode was recorded as part of the ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author series.Stan Grant is one of Australia’s most respected and awarded journalists, Vice-Chancellor's Chair of Australian-Indigenous Belonging at Charles Sturt University, and author of The Queen is dead.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.

Peter 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 250th episode of Democracy Sausage, academic and former journalist Professor Peter van Onselen joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss what comes next for the federal government.Peter van Onselen is a Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the University of Western Australia and a columnist for The Australian.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.