Command, Control and Conformity

Command, Control and Conformity

July 28, 2026 · 53 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the dynamics within the Labor party and the implications of its governance style amidst rising populism in Australia.

How did a Prime Minister sitting on one of Labor's largest-ever majorities turn his national conference into a masterclass in silence — and what does that say about who's allowed to argue inside the party? Is Albanese's "command and control" PMO disciplined governance or a party too afraid of its own conscience? With One Nation polling above 25 per cent in a Victoria that's just lost its Premier — without an MP, candidate or policy to its name — and Pauline Hanson's blossoming friendship with billionaire Gina Rinehart raising questions about who bankrolls the populist right, can Labor's manufactured unity survive the volatility of 2028?  The Saturday Paper's chief political correspondent Karen Barlow joins Mark and Marija to make sense of Labor's conference of conformity, the Pyongyang PMO, and the rise of One Nation.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Mark Kenny

Guests: Marija, Karen Barlow

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: One Nation, Labor

Places: Victoria, Australia

More episodes of Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny podcast page.