Historian Frank Bongiorno joins us to discuss superannuation reforms, Robodebt and the state of policy debate in Australian politics on this episode of Democracy Sausage.

Why has the backlash to the government’s superannuation changes been so fervent, despite an overwhelming majority of Australians supporting the move? What did the illegal Robodebt scheme reveal about the exercise of power in Australian politics and society? And what lessons can the Prime Minister and his cabinet learn from past governments if it wants to have a serious, effective conversation about economic reform? On this episode of Democracy Sausage, The Australian National University’s Professor Frank Bongiorno, Dr Marija Taflaga and Professor Mark Kenny discuss policymaking and reform in a febrile - even hostile - media environment.

Frank Bongiorno AM is an Australian labour, political and cultural historian and Professor of History at The Australian National University (ANU).

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.

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This podcast is produced by The Australian National University.

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