Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

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Cartel country Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

Independent Member of Parliament Kate Chaney joins us to discuss how to make Australian politics more transparent and ways to level the playing field for new and independent political actors.

Are political parties writing the rules to protect their own interests rather than those of the Australian public? Why can governments still run expensive, taxpayer-funded advertising campaigns in the lead-up to elections? And how can political donation laws be altered to provide voters with real-time information about the flow of money in a campaign? Independent Member for Curtin Kate Chaney joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss donations, transparency and the importance of public trust in the political system.

Kate Chaney is the Independent Federal Member for Curtin in Western Australia.

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.

Mugged by reality: climate denial in retreat Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

Climatologist Janette Lindesay joins the show to discuss whether climate denial is finally on the decline and the science behind our increasingly severe weather.

With unprecedented wildfires in Europe and another hot and dry summer likely in Australia, what’s causing the increasingly intense weather across the globe? Is Australia’s climate denial sector now entering a recession in the face of this new reality? And will the new national anti-corruption commission have a sobering effect on bad behaviour in federal politics? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Professor Janette Lindesay joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss Earth’s changing climate.

Janette Lindesay is a climatologist and Professor at the ANU College of Science.

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.

Join us on campus or online at The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice: A Dialogue, a special event for students and people interested in learning more about the upcoming Voice referendum.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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

Dutton’s cul-de-sac Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

Global referendums expert Matt Qvortrup joins us to bust some referendum myths ahead of this year’s Voice vote and to discuss the political implications of the campaign.

Is Peter Dutton piling pressure on the government through the Voice campaign or racing towards a political dead end? Do scare campaigns or celebrity endorsements work in referendums? And is Rishi Sunak just trying to 'save the furniture' for the British Conservative Party ahead of the next election? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, referendums expert and political scientist Professor Matt Qvortrup joins Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Marija Taflaga to discuss constitutional changes in Australia and around the world.

Matt Qvortrup is a Visiting Professor of Constitutional Law at the ANU College of Law and Chair of Political Science at Coventry University.

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.

Join us on campus at The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice: A Dialogue, a special event designed for students and people interested in learning more about the upcoming Voice referendum.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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

A non-aligned movement Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

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.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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

Getting the message Jul 11, 2023

Show notes

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.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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

Trump’s Australia with Bruce Wolpe Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

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.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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

Smashing the status quo Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

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.

Nominate outstanding ANU graduates for the 2023 Alumni Awards.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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

Breaking the housing deadlock with Allegra Spender Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

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.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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

Out of the shadows Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

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.

Nominate outstanding ANU graduates for the 2023 Alumni Awards.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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

Rorting the system Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

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.

This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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

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