Share

cover art for The cop and the suburban strategy

Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

The cop and the suburban strategy

Journalist Lech Blaine joins us to talk Peter Dutton’s Coalition, moving working class voters, and his new essay, Bad Cop. 


How did Peter Dutton’s experiences growing up in Queensland influence his politics and his conservatism? How successful will he be in his strategy to win outer-suburban and regional seats from Labor? And does he have the political judgement needed to pull the strategy off? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, recorded live, journalist Lech Blaine discusses what makes Peter Dutton and his new Quarterly Essay Bad Cop: Peter Dutton's Strongman Politics

 

This episode was recorded as part of the ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author series


Lech Blaine is an award-winning writer and journalist from Queensland. He was the 2023 Charles Perkins Centre writer in residence. His writing has appeared in Good Weekend, Griffith Review, The Guardian and The Monthly

 

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

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Contest for the populist vote

    52:49|
    Does the experience in the US, Germany, and Brazil reflect the Australian experience? How have institutional structures insulated centrist parties against new political threats? Can the rise of anger captured by the populists be effectively tested, and has Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani shown the way? Dr Rüçhan Kaya joins Mark and Marija to discuss the drift towards popularism and nationalism in liberal democratic countries.
  • China in the world

    38:14|
    Can Australia manage the tensions between our strategic relationship with China and the alliance with the United States? Does membership of AUKUS and the Quad damage our China relationship? How significantly are societal and economic issues - such as the role of women in decision making, aging population, corruption and the household registration system - impacting cohesion?China expert, Graeme Smith joins Mark to discuss China, and our relationship.
  • A Democracy Sausage for the Teacher

    01:14:37|
    Have young voters lost faith in the major political parties and politics in general? Did the recent federal budget go far enough in addressing the generational wealth gap and what will it take for political parties to successfully engage young voters?In this special classroom edition of Democracy Sausage, Dr Jill Sheppard joins the DS team and heads back to school (literally) to discuss the growing distrust in politics amongst young voters.
  • Budget, Smudge-it: truth, details and the aspiration wars

    57:34|
    Will the budget changes reconnect young and disaffected Australians to the benefits of the economy? Is Angus Taylor’s vision likely to arrest the decline in support to One Nation? Is the ALP open to creating a sovereign wealth fund as outlined by Pauline Hanson? Treasurer of Australia, Dr Jim Chalmers joins Marija and Mark to discuss last week’s budget, Angus Taylors’ reply and the challenges of ‘getting it right’ in today’s volatile political and economic landscape.
  • Budget fight

    48:51|
    Has the social deficits of broken promises put the government 'on the ropes'? Could Labor have 'pulled their punches' in this budget? Does the zeitgeist allow governments to adjust the status quo?Join Mark and Marija from the 'ringside seats' as they analyse labors 'chin-leading' budget.
  • By-election tea leaves

    57:41|
    In the wake of a dominant political victory, what are the challenges for One Nation in navigating a path to opposition status in Australian politics?  Does Angus Taylor have the political capital to survive the long road back to political relevance for the Liberal Party? Will One Nation’s uncompromising anti-immigration rhetoric backfire in urban seats and do they have the party discipline to grow into an effective alternate party government?  Psephologist Ben Raue and Political scientist Dr Jill Sheppard join Democracy Sausage live in the Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre to dissect the Farrer by-election result and its implications, if any, on politics beyond. 
  • Democracy and the fiscal paradox

    55:56|
    What responsibilities should the government have? Can hypocrisy be ignored if the government's narrative is perceived as authentic? Does the lack of access to education help to explain the erosion of democratic ideals?Professor Nicholas Biddle joins Democracy Sausage to make sense of the paradoxical observations of Australian voters in this 'age of pessimism'.If you’re in Canberra on Monday the 11th of May, please join us for a deep dive into the Farrer by-election results and help us forecast this year’s budget. Tickets going fast at Humanitix. https://events.humanitix.com/farrer-by-election-results
  • Litmus test for Sir Keir’s leadership

    52:33|
    After a landslide election victory, why has Labour plummeted in the polls? Can Sir Keir’s leadership survive and who are the likely contenders? Will the conservative party capitalise on Labour’s disfunction, or is Reform UK set to benefit from record levels of dissatisfaction with government? What are the parallels with Australian politics and who is the Prince of Darkness?Australian expat, Elizabeth Ames, joins Democracy Sausage to talk UK politics ahead of the litmus test Council elections in early May.  
  • Crisis in orthodox politics

    55:43|
    With One Nation polling plateauing, can Barnaby Joyce reinvigorate a party without policy and remain ahead of a Coalition veering to the right? What does the Liberal party stand for and will the unity ticket with the Nationals survive? Will Labour capitalise on changing public sentiment and start an agenda of significant reform or stick to Albanese incrementalism, and how will the conflict in the Middle East temper this year’s budget ambition? James Massola joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the race for second in Australian politics.