Our political parties are often focused on saying who they aren’t, and what they won’t do. Terms like ‘progressive’ and ‘conservative’ can seem hollow at best, and misleading at worst.

What does it mean to be a political conservative in our current conversation? And what could it mean if we ditched the populist shibboleths and went back to basics?

Join journalists Mark Kenny, Paul Sakkal and Niki Savva as they consider the kind of Australia a conservative government could build.  

Professor Mark Kenny is Director at the ANU Australian Studies Institute, where he hosts the popular podcast series 'Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny'. Mark is the Canberra Times political analyst and a regular on the ABC's Insiders program, Sky News Agenda, and radio programs across the country.

Paul Sakkal is federal political correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald who previously covered Victorian politics and has won two Walkley awards.

Niki Savva is an award-winning political commentator and author. She was a staffer to former prime minister John Howard and former treasurer Peter Costello, and is a member of the board of Old Parliament House.