Podcast
Keep the Bastards Honest
Hosted by Australian Democrats · EN
Keep the Bastards Honest is the podcast of the Australian Democrats political party. KTBH is where we join the political conversation in #auspol, and explore not just our policy positions and values, but with relevant experts the science and evidence that underpins possible policy solutions for the challenges facing Australia today.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Seasons Greetings 2025
Dec 2400:05:22Tap to summarizeAt this point in the year, just past the solstice – a turning point recognised across cultures – we are reminded that light does endure, and that seasons do change. It is a time for reflection: on who we are, what we stand for, and the kind of country we continue to believe Australia can be and will be. In the spirit that has guided the Australian Democrats since 1977, may we meet difference with respect, hold fast to fairness and compassion, take on challenges together and find better ways forward, and carry those values with us into the year ...
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40. An election result for the ages
May 12, 202501:59:17Tap to summarizeWell… no one was expecting that result, not even the Labor Party. Join Elana, Steve and a rehabilitated former Liberal as they consider the immediate aftermath of the election, while they wait for the very complicated count to be completed and the results finalised. Show Notes That final YouGov MRP that every sensible election watcher guffawed at and immediately dismissed as wildly overstated, but ultimately proved to be slightly understated for Labor, but overstated for the Greens, Coalition and Independents… The two party preferred poll trend that Elana referred to as the reason why every sensible election watcher guffawed at ...
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39. The education election
Apr 30, 202500:55:46Tap to summarizeEducation is possibly the third pillar of the cost of living crisis, in that it impacts young people and their families at almost every stage of life before the age of 30. Elana going to take you through the suite of policies we’ve developed for each stage of education, and then, because she's nothing if not a completionist, she's going to add art, science, and civics to the curriculum. Show notes Our early childhood education and care platform Our schooling platform Our higher education platform Our arts platform Our science platform Our platform on reforming the constitution Article on the S44 problems a Greens candidate ran into in Tasmania Our platform on lowering the voting age to 16 6 News Australia WA Senate Debate
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38. The health election
Apr 29, 202500:28:36Tap to summarizePicking up from our last episode, Elana will take you through what is essentially the other half of the cost of living crisis - health, and access to healthcare. The growing inequality in Australia is exacerbated by the increasingly difficult access to quality healthcare that the electorate is experiencing. Poor physical, mental and dental health has profound impacts on people’s economic security and ability to live productive and fulfilling lives. So let’s explore the suite of policies that the Australian Democrats have developed to address these increasingly urgent issues facing Australia. Content warning: several of the policies in this episode reference suicide, anxiety, depression, and violence. Listener discretion advised. You can contact LIfeline on 13 11 14. Show Notes Our good health policy platform Our youth mental health platform Our platform to reduce gambling harm Our platform to address family violence.
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37. The cost of living election
Apr 25, 202500:32:23Tap to summarizeThe first in a series of episodes where Elana takes listeners through the logical groupings of 30+ Australian Democrats policy platforms. This episode covers the cost of living crisis – cost of living and a fair economy, income support, and housing security. Credit to the redoubtable @gomichild on X for the episode quote. Show notes Our policy platforms on the cost of living and a fair economy Income support Housing security Subscribe to our substack, Radically Sensible. See how to vote for us in this election
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36. The election budget we had to have
Apr 3, 202501:32:26Tap to summarizeElana is back, and is joined by co-host Steve Baty and Victorian Senate candidate Heath McKenzie to review the 2025 budget, in the wake of the 2025 federal election finally being called. Thanks to the election rendering the budget yesterday's news, there's a fair bit of reviewing the budget through an election lens, which is unavoidable with one previous and two current candidates having the discussion. Show Notes "A deficit is just money the government has invested in the economy that they haven't taxed back yet." The TikTok on the US economy that Elana referred to. Our policy platforms on income support and housing security, in the wake of Elana's rants on both issues. Greg Jericho’s excellent Dollars and Sense episode on Australia’s sick housing joke. The Democracy Sausage podcast episode with Marija Taflaga’s housing renovation analogy.
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35. The state of... everything
Mar 23, 202500:15:02Tap to summarizeAfter an accidental hiatus, Elana is back to discuss her very excellent, totally accurate, very good prediction about the US election. Oh wait, we’re getting an update… Show notes: The very disappointing fact check about the Danish Government’s response to Donald Trump’s offer to buy Greenland The current iteration of our defence platform, which thanks to current events is now in need of an update. Keep the Bastards Honest is one of the top 100 accountability podcasts for 2025, according to Million Podcasts! The Australian Democrats now have a Substack: subscribe to Radically Sensible for free.
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Seasons Greetings 2024
Dec 24, 202400:06:29Tap to summarizeWishing all of our listeners are safe and happy holiday season, and a merry Christmas for those who celebrate. Show Notes The Australian Democrats’ submission to the Senate inquiry into the Online Safety bill, which was referenced in the inquiry’s final report.
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34. The State of the Union
Oct 29, 202401:40:06Tap to summarizeElana conducts a wellness check on the United States. At the time of publishing this episode the US election is a week away, and to say that it’s one of the most consequential elections the world has ever seen is something of an understatement. Rather than trying to understand US politics through the lenses of either the US or Australian media, Elana asks an average American voter living in Trump country how it’s going. Show Notes: For context on the 1968 DNC, the ABC’s If You’re Listening podcast does a brilliant deep dive into this event, in podcast and video ...
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Bonus: Census 2026
Sep 30, 202400:27:51Tap to summarizeThe Prime Ministerial captain’s call on the 2026 census and the multiple excuses and backlfips required to ensure that the government ended up in almost the same position as they were in prior to Anthony Albanese’s intervention. You couldn’t make this up. Show Notes: The Daily Aus podcast on the Census backlash and backflip Sign the Equality Australia Count Us In petition to ensure everyone is represented in the 2026 CensusSupport Wear It Purple Laura Tingle reveals the Census questionsAlbanese vents his frustration in CabinetRoss Gittins on why Albanese tried to pre-empt a culture warHow this blew up in Albanese’s ...
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