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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Demographer Liz Allen and social policy expert Ben Phillips join us to discuss the budget's impact on struggling Australians and the politics of the population debate.What impact will the modest increases to the JobSeeker payment and other benefits have on the lives of people who are doing it tough? Is the federal government doing enough to build the case for more substantial increases in social security spending? And should people be concerned about the impact of a growing population on infrastructure? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, Dr Liz Allen and Associate Professor Ben Phillips join Professor Mark Kenny to discuss the politics of population and the case for a stronger safety net.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.Ben Phillips is an Associate Professor and a Principal Research Fellow at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods.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 [email protected] podcast is produced by The Australian National University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.