Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

Former Foreign Minister and New South Wales Premier Bob Carr joins us to talk about the recent stabbing attacks in Sydney, escalating tensions in the Middle East and Penny Wong's move to recognise Palestinian statehood.

What can leaders do to achieve calm and social cohesion following the recent stabbing incidents in Sydney? How likely is an interstate war in the Middle East? And following Penny Wong’s ANU speech, whi...

Elise Stephenson from the ANU Global Institute for Women’s Leadership joins us to ask who gets to represent Australia on the world stage? 

Governor-General has caused backlash in some quarters of the media, which raises the question, who gets to be the face Australia presents to the world? As we break down barriers in representation, how do inequalities evolve in institutions, online environments and even space? A...

Demographer Liz Allen and migration expert Alan Gamlen are talking migration and population, and the fear-based discourse that often surrounds it.

Last week we saw an attempt at rushing through immigration legislation, but creating a sense of panic around immigration and population issues has long been a staple of the political playbook. So why is it effective? Where does the common sense lay in how our polit...

Independent member for Warringah, Zali Steggall discusses her unusual path to politics and election integrity. 

Among all the commentary about the ‘teal wave’ in the 2022 federal election, how has the presence of more independent candidates in Australia’s chambers of power changed the status quo of politics? And what more needs to change? In the face of scare campaigns from both major parties, how can we make sure...

International relations scholar Charles Miller joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the conflict in Ukraine and Putin’s ‘re-election’.

Are Ukraine’s international supporters in the United States and Europe losing hope in holding off Russia’s advances and achieving peace? If Trump is elected, where will Ukraine source much needed aid? And, after Putin has been re-elected for another six years, why do autocrats bother wit...

Dennis Quinn and Paul Pickering join us to cast their early predictions on the 2024 US election. 

What can Australia expect from this year’s US election, and how may their campaigns infiltrate our own political landscape? What do economic polling models suggest and how will other key issues impact the way people vote? And, most importantly, can we already forecast the winner at the end of the long campaign?&n...

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,...

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 Sausa...

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? ...

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 ...

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 tension...

Dust off the tux and bring out your ballgown – it’s the fourth annual Democracy Sausage Awards. 

Who performed the most flagrant and self-interested political backflip? What was the risible explanation for a government or political failure? And who shone brightest at home and abroad as the most effective political leader? On the final episode of Democracy Sausage for 2023, Professor Frank Bongiorno joins Prof...

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?&...

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 Ken...

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 Bi...

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 t...

Author and columnist Troy Bramston joins us to talk about the legacy and government of Bob Hawke, 40 years after his rise to the prime ministership.

Why does Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regard the Hawke government as a model for modern Labor? Would Hawke’s consensus-based approach be effective in a contemporary political environment? And what were his major regrets from his time in office? On this episode of Democr...

Newly appointed United Nations rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism Ben Saul joins Mark and Marija to discuss the Israel-Gaza conflict.

How does international humanitarian law apply to the Israel-Gaza conflict? What responsibilities do all parties have to protect civilians? And with influential voices both inside and outside of Israel calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step aside, will his govern...

Journalist and broadcaster Hamish Macdonald joins us to discuss the stories behind some of the world’s most influential leaders.

Who's the most powerful woman in the world right now? Can Joe Biden be an effective antidote to populism and demagoguery in the United States? And is Volodymyr Zelenskyy living proof that an individual leader can have major influence over the course of history? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, ABC...