Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

Latest Episodes:

Learning to listen Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

Julian Leeser and Bridget Archer join us on this episode to discuss the media’s performance during the Voice referendum and the “dishonourable” argument underpinning the ‘no’ campaign.

What impact will the Voice to Parliament have on the gaps in life expectancy and a range of other measures between First Nations people and the general Australian population? Why is the Voice the proposition being put to the Australian people at this referendum, rather than another form of constitutional recognition? And is the media guilty of ‘bothsidesing’ the debate and allowing lies and misinformation to go unchallenged? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Liberal members of parliament Bridget Archer and Julian Leeser join Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss the Voice and why they’re supporting it.

Bridget Archer is the federal Liberal Member for Bass in Tasmania.

Julian Leeser is the federal Liberal Member for Berowra in New South Wales, the former Shadow Attorney-General and the former Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians.

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.

Saying yes to change with Pat Dodson Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, Senator Pat Dodson joins us to talk about the Voice, why it’s important for improving outcomes for First Nations people and the consequences for the country if the amendment fails.

Why is a Voice to Parliament, rather than constitutional recognition alone, the proposal being put to the Australian people at this referendum? What would be the process to design the legislation, should the amendment be agreed to on 14 October? And what would the failure of this proposal mean for Australia, both domestically and in its international relations? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, reconciliation leader Senator Pat Dodson joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss the case for the Voice to Parliament and the possible consequences for the nation if the proposal fails.

Pat Dodson is a Yawuru man from Broome, the Chair of Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and a Senator for Western Australia.

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.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Andrews, the master of lounge room politics Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

We discuss the resignation of Daniel Andrews and boundaries for bureaucrats on this episode of Democracy Sausage.

How did former Victorian leader Daniel Andrews gain a national profile like few premiers before him? Where should the line be between bureaucrats and politics? And can the Yes campaign turn public opinion around before referendum day? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr Marija Taflaga and Professor Mark Kenny discuss Daniel Andrews’ political legacy, the inquiry into senior public servant Michael Pezzullo and the state of the Voice campaign.

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.

The following was mentioned during this episode:

Noel Pearson addresses the National Press Club of Australia, ABC News on YouTube, September 2023

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.

The “horrible irony” of the Voice campaign Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

Author and academic Julianne Schultz joins Mark and Marija to discuss the media coverage of the Voice campaign and the importance of understanding Australia’s history.

What impact has the Coalition’s decision to oppose the Voice to Parliament had on the media’s coverage of the referendum? Why has the debate around the Voice not led to a deeper discussion about Australian history? And how has the No campaign seemingly chipped away at broad public support for the Voice over recent months? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Griffith University Emeritus Professor Julianne Schultz joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss the public discomfort around engaging with Australian history and the Voice campaign so far.

Julianne Schultz is an Emeritus Professor of Media and Culture at Griffith University, a columnist for The Guardian and the author of The Idea of Australia: A search for the soul of the nation.

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.

The following publications were mentioned during this episode:

Marcia Langton: Welcome to Country(2nd edition) by Marcia Langton

This Is Not Propaganda by Peter Pomerantsev

The Idea of Australia by Julianne Schultz

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Putin losing his grip on power? Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

Russia expert Derek Hutcheson joins us to discuss the reasons for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political longevity and whether his power is finally on the slide.

What impact did the economic chaos in Russia in the decade leading up to Vladimir Putin’s ascension to the presidency have on his political career? Will the suspicious death of his former ally Yevgeny Prigozhin have an impact on Putin’s ability to keep Russia’s powerful elites onside? And will it be generational change rather than a coup that brings about a major realignment in Russian politics? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Derek Hutcheson joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss sources of Putin’s political power and the impact of the disastrous, illegal war on Ukraine on his standing in Russia.

Derek Stanford Hutcheson is a visiting Russia specialist at The Australian National University (ANU) and a Professor of Political Science and Vice-Dean at Sweden’s Malmö University.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hangovers and hard landings Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

Researchers Nicholas Biddle and Intifar Chowdhury join us to discuss the impact of the inflation crisis on Australians’ wellbeing and their attitudes to politics.

What impact is inflation and rising interest rates having on the financial and psychological wellbeing of Australians? With over 30 per cent of people finding it difficult to get by on their current income, are voters likely to start pointing the finger at the current government for the state of the economy? And will the tougher economic times affect people’s attitudes during the Voice referendum campaign? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Nicholas Biddle and Dr Intifar Chowdhury join Professor Mark Kenny to discuss the economy, how its affecting political attitudes and the findings of the latest ANUpoll.

Nicholas Biddle is an Associate Director and Professor at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods.

Intifar Chowdhury is a political scientist and Associate Lecturer at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The echidna strategy with Sam Roggeveen Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

Sam Roggeveen from the Lowy Institute joins us on this episode of Democracy Sausage to discuss Australia’s search for power and peace in the Indo-Pacific.

What is Australia’s biggest asset when it comes to defending against a rising China? Have the economic arguments made in favour of AUKUS been over-egged by the federal government? And how far should Australia go to protect Taiwan’s democracy? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Director of the Lowy Institute’s International Security Program Sam Roggeveen joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss Australia's security, the AUKUS deal and his new book, The Echidna Strategy.

Sam Roggeveen is Director of the Lowy Institute’s International Security Program and author of The Echidna Strategy: Australia’s Search for Power and Peace.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Voice with Megan Davis and George Williams Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Megan Davis and George Williams join Mark Kenny live on campus to talk about Australia’s constitution and their new book, Everything you need to know about the Voice.

Some critics of the Voice argue it would “introduce race” into the constitution, but is racial discrimination in fact a significant factor in the document and its history? Has the government dropped the ball by not running a civic education campaign in the lead-up to the referendum? And why is Australia’s colonial history not better understood by the broader population? On this special episode of Democracy Sausage, recorded live on campus at The Australian National University (ANU), Professor Megan Davis and Professor George Williams AO join Professor Mark Kenny to talk about the upcoming referendum and their new book, Everything you need to know about the Voice.

This episode was recorded live as part of the ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author series on 7 August 2023. Everything you need to know about the Voice was published by UNSW Press.

Megan Davis is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Society), the Balnaves Chair of Constitutional Law, a Professor of Law and the Director of the Indigenous Law Centre at UNSW.

George Williams AO is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Assurance), the Anthony Mason Professor and a Scientia Professor of Constitutional Law at UNSW.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saying the quiet part out loud Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Frank Bongiorno and Liz Allen join us to discuss the political challenges facing the Labor Party in the wake of its national conference and the upcoming Intergenerational Report.

How damaging is internal criticism within the Labor Party around the leadership’s positions on issues like AUKUS and climate change? How has Anthony Albanese adapted as a leader on the path to the prime ministership and while in office? And what might the next Intergenerational Report reveal about who we are and where we’re going as a nation? Historian Professor Frank Bongiorno and demographer Dr Liz Allen join Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga this week for a sizzling episode of Democracy Sausage.

Frank Bongiorno AM is an Australian labour, political and cultural historian and Professor of History at The Australian National University (ANU).

Liz Allen is a demographer and social researcher at the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences and the author of The Future of Us: Demography gets a makeover.

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.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labor’s AUKUS moonshot with Bob Carr Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Former foreign minister Bob Carr joins Mark Kenny to talk about AUKUS, Julian Assange and the Australian government’s language around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ahead of the Labor Party’s national conference.

Is Australia acting against its own national interests through the AUKUS deal and other defence agreements being struck with the United States? Should the Albanese government be more vigorous in its support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange? And what is the prospect of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, former Labor foreign minister the Hon Bob Carr joins Professor Mark Kenny to discuss Australian foreign policy in the lead-up to the Labor Party’s national conference.

The Hon Bob Carr is a former Australian foreign minister, former New South Wales premier and Industry Professor (Business and Climate Change) at the University of Technology Sydney.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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