Socially Democratic

This episode of Socially Democratic discusses the 2026 Federal Budget — Jim Chalmers' most ambitious yet — with Emma Dawson, Executive Director of the Chifley Research Centre, and economist Adam Triggs, Partner at Mandala. 
Is this really the most significant tax reform package in a quarter of a century? Stephen, Emma, and Adam think so. Here's why.
💰 Negative gearing reform and capital gains tax — what's actually changing, who it targets, and why the grandfathering provisions matter more than the headlines suggest
🏡 Housing affordability — how the modelling behind 75,000 new homeowners works, and what the reforms could realistically do to property prices over time
🔁 Trust taxation — the quiet giant of this budget. Why changes to trusts are actually bigger than the CGT and negative gearing reforms combined
📈 Productivity and economic reform — is there enough in this budget for Australia's long-term economic challenges, or are the critics right that Chalmers left too much on the table?
🤝 Winners and losers — young people, aged care, First Nations communities, and the NDIS. Emma and Adam cut through the spin on who this federal budget really serves
🗳️ The political fallout — how will the Coalition, the Greens, and One Nation respond to a Labor budget that just pulled the rug out from under all of them?
Don't miss this ep.
Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday.
Support the show
Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic.
Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic
If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app.
Follow Us on Socials:
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The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

In this topical, fully-loaded episode of Socially Democratic , Stephen, Todd, and Lissie convene to answer our most pressing Mailbag questions - and add a few thoughts of their own. 
Our listeners asked:
🏡 If the Treasury scraps or reduces negative gearing and capital gains tax benefits in the next federal budget - will it actually help younger generations? 
🤑In focusing almost exclusively on concrete gains like worker protections and cost-of-living relief, is the ALP missing an opportunity to speak to the broader disaffection of Australian workers with an economy that appears to be leaving them behind?
🕵️How exactly does the Labor Party recruit candidates in pre-selection? Stephen shares a few anecdotes from his time as a party official. 
💡Where do Lissie, Stephen, and Todd stand on Future Made in Australia? Is the program aimed at making Australia a global energy superpower - or is it simply about energy sovereignty?
🗳️Plus, the Nepean and Farrer by-elections, Liberal’s disastrous One-Nation preferences, and a new segment: The Watchlist - our culture picks of the month. 
Don’t miss this ep. 
Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday.
Mentioned in the show:
👉 The Rest is History
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/britain-in-the-70s-the-rise-of-thatcher-part-1/id1537788786?i=1000761089927
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2yFqDJovxWNpfSKsaMd0NM?si=ptghMRssRQ6BJRWVoXM6sQ
👉 Pike River
https://youtu.be/1YOnuqAzTj4?si=UDoj7S5IWm1pF_TN
👉 Tucker Carlson
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV6ear0jdy9/?igsh=MXRrOXl5eWl1MDFoNg==
Support the show
Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic.
Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic
If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app.
Follow Us on Socials:
Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic)
LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh)
X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet)
The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

This episode of Socially Democratic brings Stephen, David, and Jessie back together to discuss Labor news and politics over the past month - and envision what’s to come.

They cover:

💰The May Federal Budget announcement: What sort of scenarios must be planned for with the ongoing fuel crisis? Which potential cost-of-living reforms are likely to unfold, and how should the government communicate those decisions to the Australian public?

⚖️ The High Court Decision on Election Donations: How this decision to strike down Victoria’s donation cap laws has national implications, and how this might open the door for a “billionaire’s picnic” in election campaigns.

🗳️ The Looming By-Elections in Farrer and Nepean. Labor is not contesting either by-election, but should they still be concerned about the rise of grievance politics? And in Victoria, what are the implications of a Liberal Party preference deal with One Nation, and why would they make one so soon?

Plus, all the categories and nominations you know and love.

Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday.

Support the show
Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic.
Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic
If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app.
Follow Us on Socials:
Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic)
LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh)
X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet)
The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

How did the well-oiled machine that built the historic Obama campaign in 2008 fail so catastrophically in 2024?

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This week on Socially Democratic, Stephen speaks with Josh Cook and Greta Carnes about their report ‘The Future of Democratic Organizing’.

Greta is a political campaigner and researcher, while Josh is an expert in digital strategy and engagement. Both are U.S.-based ‘Obama for America’ alums with over a decade of experience in national campaigns.

We ask:

🤝 What is “relational organising” and why is it so critical now?

📐 How do we measure impact in a way that truly aligns with strategy, and what’s the harm in being too metrics-focused?

🦖 How did the Democrats unwittingly work against innovation in their campaigns?

🤖 How does digital organising interact with traditional field work and why do some campaign leaders still resist it?

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This is a vital and fascinating conversation for both organisers and anyone who relies on the impact of organising. Tune in to hear more.

Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday.

Mentioned in the Show
https://docsend.com/view/hu7n3im4fwgepuxe?utm_campaign=the-organizing-model-that-failed-the-democrats&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=www.chaoticera.news

Relentless
https://www.relentless.vote/

Good Influence
https://www.beagoodinfluence.com/
Support the show
Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic.
Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic
If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app.
Follow Us on Socials:
Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic)
LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh)
X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet)
The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

This week on Socially Democratic, Stephen speaks with John Armitage, one of the most respected social researchers and communication strategists on the Australian left.

As recent polls have shown, the political landscape in Australia is rapidly shifting. So what's next? Where to now for the Labor Party, the Liberal Party and One Nation?

They cover:

🔴 How should State Labor and the ALP position themselves if they want to continue being seen as the natural party of government?

🔵 What will become of the Liberal Party? Who are they today, and why have they so badly failed to address voter concerns?

🟠 What drives Australians to One Nation? Of all the minor and fringe political parties to choose from, why them?

🎯 The need for a bold policy change to address economic unfairness and appeal to drifting voters.

🎭 Recommendations for state and federal Labor on developing a clear message of contrast to One Nation - as well as exposing the hypocrisy of their "ordinary person" narrative.

Socially Democratic is an Australian Labor politics and campaigns podcast with expert guests. New episodes every Friday.
Support the show
Socially Democratic is an opinion-based political and campaign podcast that facilitates discussion on a range of topical issues. The opinions of guests are not an endorsement and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff at Dunn Street and Socially Democratic.
Access ad-free episodes and send in questions by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SociallyDemocratic
If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app.
Follow Us on Socials:
Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic)
LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh)
X (https://x.com/SocialDemPod)
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet)
The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au