The first Democracy Sausage episode for 2026: Conservative crisis

Photo by Max Vakhtbovych on Pexels

Photo by Max Vakhtbovych on Pexels

How did the politicisation of a national tragedy backfire for Sussan Ley? 

Can the coalition survive? 

Who will reign supreme in the fight for the right?

With an early return to federal parliament, political scientist, Dr Jill Sheppard joins Democracy Sausage to discuss the politicisation of a tragedy and the deep divisions within the federal coalition and conservative parties in Australia. 

Listen here: AcastApple PodcastsSpotify

Jill Sheppard is an Associate Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations. Her research interests are elections and voting, compulsory voting, political participation, and public opinion, particularly in Australia but also in a comparative context.

Dr 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 the Director of the Australian Studies Institute. He came to the Australian National University after a high-profile journalistic career culminating in 6 years as chief political correspondent and national affairs editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Canberra Times.

Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny is available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPocket Casts 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.