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 a

The face of the nation

9 days ago 45m 56s

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

Population panic

1 17 days ago 53m 34s

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 pa

Advance Australian elections fair with Zali Steggall

24 days ago 54m 20s

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 A

The danger of lost hope

1 month ago 48m 55s

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 adva

The United States’ election year ahead

Mar 12th, 2024 51m 19s

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 pollin

Having it both ways

Mar 6th, 2024 53m 16s

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 fo

Saving the Australian dream

Feb 27th, 2024 52m 47s

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

Israel, Gaza and the crisis in the Middle East

Feb 20th, 2024 50m 29s

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 hos

Do unto others

Feb 13th, 2024 53m 23s

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 t

Dangerous allies

Jan 30th, 2024 51m 31s

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 t

The fourth annual Democracy Sausage Awards

Dec 19th, 2023 55m 45s

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

Media reform and hate speech on campus with Brian Schmidt

Dec 12th, 2023 30m 44s

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

Troubled waters

Dec 5th, 2023 49m 33s

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

Divided nation – the Voice vote explained

Nov 27th, 2023 52m 37s

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

Hurry up and wait – negotiating the climate crisis

Nov 21st, 2023 53m 48s

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 prep

Bob Hawke’s complex legacy

Nov 14th, 2023 51m 54s

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

Responsibilities to protect

Nov 7th, 2023 1h 3m

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

Who runs the world?

Oct 31st, 2023 51m 44s

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 demagog

Failure to launch

Oct 24th, 2023 52m 1s

Political communications expert Andrea Carson joins Mark and Marija to discuss the performance of the media during the Voice referendum and why the ‘yes’ campaign struggled to get off the ground. How did support for the Voice fall 20 per cent i

Where did it all go wrong for the ‘yes’ campaign?

Oct 17th, 2023 53m 26s

On this episode, referendums expert Matt Qvortrup and social researcher Nicholas Biddle join us to examine the Voice referendum result. How important was the lack of bipartisanship to the outcome of the referendum? Could the government have d

Learning to listen

Oct 10th, 2023 46m 30s

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

Saying yes to change with Pat Dodson

Oct 3rd, 2023 53m 13s

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 con

Daniel Andrews, the master of lounge room politics

Sep 27th, 2023 46m 25s

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 betw

The “horrible irony” of the Voice campaign

Sep 21st, 2023 56m 20s

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