Latest news with #DemocracySausage
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Australia heads to polls, a look at ‘democracy sausages' and how it became tradition
As Australia heads to the polls today, it's not uncommon to see voters walking away from polling booths not just with inked fingers, but with sausages wrapped in white bread with onions and a dash of sauce. Called as the 'democracy sausage', this election day snack has become a fixture at polling places across the country. As voters queue up to cast their ballots, these sausages are served outside polling places, which are typically schools and community halls. During the 2022 federal election, sausage sizzles at polling stations raised an estimated AUD 4.1 million according to ABC News. A volunteer cooks sausages on a BBQ outside a polling booth at Sydney's Bondi Beach. (AP Photo) Let's find out more about the democracy sausage and why Australians are in love with it. Political identity or a joke? The democracy sausage has become a symbol of Australian identity. Voters often post photos with the hashtag #democracysausage. The ritual extends beyond Australia's borders, with Australians living abroad enjoying the tradition at embassies in cities like New York, Tokyo, and Nairobi, as well as in Antarctica. Political historian Judith Brett, author of From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting, says the sausage appeals to the Australian sense of humour. 'Government didn't think it up, a political party didn't think it up as a slogan.' A man squirts sauce on his 'Democracy Sausage' at the Marrickville Public School in Sydney. (AP Photo) Websites to track sausages For decades, the tradition has transformed elections into gatherings, often helping to raise funds for local initiatives. What began as a small fundraising effort in the 1940s, blossomed into a nationwide phenomenon, gaining momentum in the 1980s when portable barbecues became more accessible. However, it was only in 2010 and onwards that the term 'democracy sausage' became more recognised. Websites like SnagVotes and started mapping polling places to let voters know where to find a sausage while fulfilling their civic duties. A volunteer hands a customer a sausage in a bread roll outside a polling booth. (AP Photo) Alex Dawson, co-founder of explains that the site was created in 2013 to help voters find these sizzles and make the most of their voting experience. 'It's something that binds everyone together,' said Dawson according to AP. Dawson's website tracks more than 2,000 polling locations across the country, offering details on food options, including halal, gluten-free, and vegan sausages. This year, the site also listed cakes, coffee, and burgers in some areas. Uber Eats stealing the sausage-spirit? This year, the tradition took a commercial turn when Uber Eats announced it would deliver 'democracy sausages' in selected areas of Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. In a bid to make the sausage sizzle more accessible, Uber Eats teamed up with marketing company Maverick to offer sausages for AUD 11.60 according to The Guardian, which included delivery charges. From each sausage sold, AUD 3.50 went to charity, with the goal of raising up to AUD 10,500 for Red Cross partners. A worker hands a man a 'Democracy Sausage' at the Marrickville Public School in Sydney. (AP Photo) Despite the good cause, critics argued that the involvement of a corporate giant like Uber Eats undermined the community spirit of the tradition. 'That is so unAustralian,' one Facebook user commented as per The Guardian. Another said, 'It's a tone-deaf publicity stunt.' Uber Eats defended the initiative, with Managing Director Ed Kitchen stating that the company wanted to ensure more Australians could access the tradition, given that not all polling stations feature a sausage sizzle. 'For those of you able to make use of a local sausage sizzle, I strongly encourage you to support the community fundraising efforts first and foremost,' he said. Not just sausages—also swim briefs! At some polling stations, particularly in coastal areas like Bondi, voters have been known to show up in 'budgy smugglers' — tight-fitting swim briefs worn after a morning swim. In fact, one swimwear brand even offered free pairs to the first 200 voters who arrived in them, according to Reuters. People queue outside at a polling booth at Sydney's Bondi Beach. (AP Photo) 'It's a little bit revealing and may be confronting for some of your viewers. But a lot people here come out of the water and come and vote. I think it's a nice statement of Australian democracy,' said one voter from Bondi. In Australia, voting is compulsory, and failure to vote without valid reason results in a payable fine. The democracy sausage, while being a simple snack, represents a shared moment of community, a chance to connect with neighbours, support local initiatives, and — in true Australian fashion — enjoy a bit of humour while participating in the democratic process. One swimwear brand even offered free 'budgy smugglers' to the first 200 voters who arrived in them. (AP Photo) 'People said vote early but we wanted to come and get a democracy sausage,' said one voter as per Reuters. 'The perfect democracy sausage is one that's available,' said another voter in Melbourne. Preliminary counting of the election results begins immediately after polls close tonight. While unofficial results are often clear by the evening, official certification can take days or weeks due to hand-counting of nearly 18 million ballots—including postal and overseas votes.
SBS Australia
03-05-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Australia election 2025 live: First polls open as prime minister says 'grand final day' is here
25m ago 11:47am It's getting pretty close to lunchtime in most states and territories, and Western Australians are easing into brunch. For many Australians, it simply wouldn't be an election day without that most revered of traditions — a sausage between a bit of bread, some sauce, and perhaps a few grilled onions. If you're keen on snagging a snag, then the crowd-sourced website Democracy Sausage has the information you need. Donna McMckendray seems pretty happy with her democracy sausage outside a polling booth in the electorate of Goldstein in Melbourne. Source: AAP / Diego Fedele For another year, the group has created an interactive map where you can find the polling booths with sausage sizzles and cake sales in your area, among other details. Check out the more than 2,500 estimated booths serving food . — Cameron Carr 35m ago 11:37am After more than a month of campaigning, there have been dozens of pledges made by the major parties. Rania Yallop and Elfy Scott from SBS News' Party Time election podcast series have broken down the big promises, as well as looking at what areas have been overlooked in the campaigns. Have a listen below, or catch up on every episode of Party Time via your favourite podcast app or . — Alex Gallagher 47m ago 11:25am More than 30 political parties are contesting this election, and most are minor ones. At the last election in 2022, almost one in three Australians voted for a minor party or an independent candidate — the highest number in almost 100 years. That led to 16 independent and minor MPs joining the crossbench in the House of Representatives, with the power to take part in debates and introduce bills. As micro and mini parties increasingly grow in popularity, who are some of the key players, and what do they stand for? Yasmine Alwakal and Alexandra Koster have broken down the minor parties who are vying for your vote, and what they're offering . — Cameron Carr 1h ago 11:09am Speaking of Dickson, Ali France is Labor's candidate for Peter Dutton 's electorate in Queensland, which is held by the Coalition with a 1.7 per cent margin — the closest in the state. SBS News' Andrew Chappelle spoke to France at a polling centre this morning, asking how she felt as she contests Dutton's seat for the third time. "I'm hopeful," France said. "I think it's gonna be really close in this seat." "It's always close in this seat, but it feels a bit more positive than last time, so that gives me a bit of hope. We've worked exceptionally hard for seven years in this seat ... People know me, they know what I stand for, so it feels good this time around." On the issue that's stayed at the forefront of voters' minds in the lead-up to election day, France said it's always been cost of living, and that, increasingly, people have been looking at which party is going to put more money in their pockets. — Alex Gallagher 1h ago 10:59am Earlier this morning, Peter Dutton made his final pitch to voters while appearing on breakfast TV. Asked if he will step down as Opposition leader if he loses the election, Dutton says you "can't go into the grand final talking like that". "I'm 54. I'm still very young and I've just got a burning passion for this country," he told Nine's Today Show. "I just think we live in the best country in the world. Whatever we can do to make it even better is what we contribute ourselves to." The Coalition leader has made a number of TV appearances today, making several stops throughout Melbourne, and is expected to lodge his own vote in his Queensland electorate of Dickson later today. — Cameron Carr 2h ago 10:24am Forty of the Senate's 76 seats are up for grabs at this election. Since senators represent entire states and territories, the ballot paper is much longer than for the House of Representatives. In past state and federal elections, some ballots have measured over a metre long from the sheer number of candidates and parties running. You can find out who is running for the upper house in your state or territory . — Cameron Carr 2h ago 10:08am Polls have opened in WA and are running across the country until 6pm local time. While it could be days until we know the outcome of the election, the Australian Electoral Commission anticipates early results around an hour after polls close. "It is reasonable to expect that some of the smaller polling places will have results posted from around 7pm local time with a steadier flow of mid-large sized polling places from around 8-8:30pm local time onwards," its website reads. — Cameron Carr 2h ago 10:08am Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made a pre poll appearance at the Liberal-held seat of Menzies. A redistribution has made the multicultural suburban seat notionally Labor territory, with Labor candidate Gabriel Ng taking on Liberal moderate Keith Wolahan . Albanese spoke with Labor volunteers, while Coalition campaigners stood quietly and respectfully nearby. One Liberal supporter even shook the prime minister's hand, who thanked him for doing his part in democracy. The tone was calmer than other pre-poll visits, in which Albanese has received a few heckles. A woman had to be pulled away by security at a pre-poll centre on Friday after trying to confront the Labor leader. — Naveen Razik 2h ago 9:48am Polling centres have been open for nearly two hours now on Australia's east coast, and voters have begun heading to the polls in droves. Here are a couple of photos from Bondi in Sydney, where locals are taking a break from catching waves to exercise their democratic rights. — Alex Gallagher 3h ago 9:35am Peter Dutton is pulling up to his 17th petrol station of the campaign in Melbourne's north-west suburb of Melton, in the Labor seat of Gorton. The electorate is held on a 10 per cent margin — but with member Brendan O'Connor retiring, it's believed the seat is in play. Liberal campaign spokesman James Paterson is waiting at the bowser to welcome the Opposition leader, who has pulled up in a truck with double trouble signage and a photo of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese . Dutton handed out chocolates to the media, bought with the hypothetical savings one could expect under the Coalition's promised 25 cents per litre reduction to the fuel excise . He also said hello to a young boy about to go to a footy game who wished him good luck. — Sara Tomevska 3h ago 9:18am There were long queues at the voting station at Zinc Fed Square in Melbourne's CBD, which serves seven electorates; Melbourne, Macnamara, Cooper, Gellibrand, Wills, Maribyrnong and Kooyong. But as polls opened, there was not yet much demand for the humble democracy sausage stall, which was being run by Fed Square fixture Mama's Gozleme — although a line can be expected to form once those hungry voters are finished. — Shiv é Prema 3h ago 9:05am 3h ago 8:50am Opposition leader Peter Dutton has categorically denied a Labor claim the Coalition is targeting age pensions, describing it as a "shameful" last-minute scare campaign. The Coalition's costings include a line item to reduce overseas eligibility for social services payments to four weeks, calculated to make a saving of $74.3 million over four years. The prime minister told SBS World News yesterday that the measure would target pensioners. "If pensioners go overseas for four weeks, they will have their pensions suspended. That will impact many of your listeners, elderly Greek Australians, Italian Australians, Portuguese Australians, so many Australians who do share their time between Australia and the country of their birth," Anthony Albanese said. But Dutton responded in an interview with SBS News saying that claim was untrue. "It's just completely false and I think it's actually shameful the prime minister would seek to scare older Australians. It's just another lie out of this campaign," he said. "We have no changes in relation to pensioners. In fact, there is more support we are providing to pensioners." When pressed to explain who the measure was targeting, the Opposition leader said the budget saving would come from targeting the parenting payment, which will be paid for a month when someone travels overseas. "It relates to some people, for example, on parenting payments who can go overseas at the moment for six weeks, and we are going to reduce that to four weeks before there's any change to their payment, so it's actually quite a minor change and it doesn't apply to age pensioners." A Coalition spokesperson said: "Age pensioners will continue to be able to travel overseas and receive the pension for at least 26 weeks, as per the current rules." — Anna Henderson 4h ago 8:38am SBS News chief political correspondent Anna Henderson has interviewed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in the final stretches of the federal election campaign. Henderson spoke with the candidates about their qualifications to lead the nation and their vision for Australia. Watch that below: — Cameron Carr 4h ago 8:30am The polls have now opened in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and will close at 6pm local time. The Australian Electoral Commission has a search tool you can use to find your nearest voting venue . If this is your first time voting, or you're feeling a bit rusty from the last federal election in 2022, here's a quick guide on casting your ballot today: — Cameron Carr 4h ago 8:00am It's 8am AEST, and polling centres in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania have now opened. The Australian Electoral Commission website has a search tool for finding your nearest voting centre . If you have travelled interstate and are voting today, you will have to find a specific interstate voting centre to visit. — Cameron Carr 4h ago 7:46am The AFL metaphors have come thick and fast from the prime minister, spruiking the government's "strong offer" for the Australian people. "Today is grand final day," Anthony Albanese told Channel 7. "I've left nothing on the field. And I'll leave nothing on the field over the next three years." Talking up his candidates, Albanese said: "I'm captain of the team, but I'm not playing full forward, centre half, forward and half back." The footy talk even extended to using an "MCG" as a unit of measurement for how many Australians are impacted by their policies. "I must have won a prize for most footy puns," he joked with the media, on what has been a frigid morning thus far. — Naveen Razik 5h ago 7:39am Peter Dutton is having his second coffee of the day at a cafe in the nearby electorate of Goldstein. "Crime is such a big issue here," Liberal candidate Tim Wilson tells Dutton . "There's so many stories of people being woken up in the middle of the night, it's scary." The Opposition leader responds that such experiences can impact people for life. "There's a lot more the government can do about it, it starts with organised crime … I think we can reduce crime in the suburbs if we take it more seriously." — Sara Tomevska 5h ago 7:31am The prime minister has arrived at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to begin the election day big dance. Anthony Albanese has described Labor's re-election strategy as "kicking with the wind in the fourth quarter", and has this morning taken that soaring rhetoric to new areas, walking onto the hallowed turf to do his breakfast television interviews. If it wasn't clear from this morning's photo opportunity, there is a supreme sense of confidence among the Labor camp, with the overnight Newspoll and YouGov poll suggesting Labor will win the two-party preferred vote. But today's contest may still deliver a few surprises as the clock winds down. — Naveen Razik 5h ago 7:19am Opposition leader Peter Dutton 's democracy day is beginning in the seat of Macnamara, considered a very safe Labor seat on a margin of 12.2 per cent. Macnamara is in Melbourne's south, and is home to Australia's largest Jewish community — currently held by Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns. The Liberal Party is looking for an upset as Labor decides to preference the Greens under the Liberal candidate, in response to the minor party's strident opposition to Israel's war in Gaza, which it has labelled a genocide. Combating rising antisemitism in the community is one of Dutton's key election platforms. At a local cafe, Dutton sat down with Liberal candidate Benson Saulo over a coffee. An innocent bystander enjoying a moment of solitude was surprised when suddenly swamped by cameras. He didn't seem to mind! Caffeine is key on election day. — Sara Tomevska
News.com.au
02-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Woolies flags astonishing sausage trend
Woolworths has revealed an astonishing sausage trend sweeping Australia. The supermarket has reported a massive 20 per cent increase in sausage sales this week ahead of the May 3 federal election. The statistic comes after democracy sausage providers everywhere spent the week stocking up for voters to get their fix from their local polling place. The democracy sausage has become a crucial and celebrated part of the voting process for Australians in recent years, with the proceeds from the goods generally go to a local fundraising cause. A spokeswoman for Woolworths said the traditional thin beef sausage has been the most popular item in the range this week. 'Sausages have been extremely popular this week with a 20 per cent uplift as customers gear up for the weekend,' she said. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has said his favourite type of Democracy Sausage is with a bit of barbecue sauce and 'well done' onions, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a traditionalist with photos showing the Prime Minister passing a local a sanga with onions on top of the sausage at a Punchbowl sausage sizzle earlier in the campaign. Recently one in three Aussies voted in favour of a new sausage sizzle policy: onions first, sausage second, according to new research from Australian Onions. This year, a team of snag-loving data fiends have put together an interactive Democracy Sausage map, which lists the location of sausage sizzles and cake stalls open Saturday across the globe. The map features more than 1800 listings using crowdsourced data. Some of the international stalls have been listed in Japan, US, South Africa, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and even Antarctica. The Democracy Sausage team has encouraged anyone with information about a fundraiser that's not yet on the map to get in touch, either by sending a tip-off via the website or by reaching out on social media. 'People associate ideas and memories with sights and sounds, and there's no better sight than seeing Aussie voters helping community groups while smelling delicious sausages and onions on a BBQ,' founder Alex Dawson said. In New York, two Aussies abroad said they have 'taken over an NYC hotdog cart and turned it into the OFFICIAL Democracy Sausage Cart 2025 to bring you a taste of Australia'.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Where to get your democracy sausage on election day
Many voters are facing a bigger question than policies announced by Labor, Liberal, Greens or Independent. They're wondering where they can find the best democracy sausage on election day. While democracies around the world face mounting threats, Aussie voters generally approach polling booths with a light heart. And they're rewarded for their efforts with the chance to support a local community group by purchasing a snag with white bread, onions, and tomato sauce. Or controversially, maybe even mustard, barbecue sauce, or worse still, plain. "I think it's lovely that the focus on election day in Australia is often where can I get my democracy sausage? And the kind of the freedom to vote is safely and easily is taken as a given," Democracy Sausage website founder Annette Tyler told Yahoo News. Annette and a small group of friends have been maintaining the Democracy Sausage website since 2013. Today, it lists over 900 locations where voters can find themselves a snag. So if you're wondering where to find a tasty feed on election day, all you need to do is click here. 'The one thing that brings everyone together is the democracy sausage,' she said 'For a lot of people, a big part of the tradition is that you go vote, and then get a sausage.' The Democracy Sausage website continues to be run on a shoestring budget by Annette and her mates. But it's got fancier over the years, and it now includes other offerings like cupcakes, vegetarian food, bacon and eggs, coffee, and halal. There's also a handy column showing which locations are wheelchair accessible. The team don't own the slogan democracy sausage, and have never sought to commercialise it. But they do offer merchandise now that's sold at a price that covers the costs of production. This year, in what must be one of the first times a food company has released election-themed produce, Masterfoods will be providing its own brand of democracy sauce at some polling booths. 'That's an independent thing. They did let us know about it,' Annette said. 'But our principle is generally to stay non-partisan and to avoid commercial entanglements.' Urgent $6.2 million plea to protect iconic Aussie island from invasive 'killer' Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's rogue AFL act Albanese accused of signing endangered species' 'death warrant' Over the years, politicians have been roasted over their clumsy attempts to eat sausages. There's one famous shot of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton eating a Dagwood dog at the 2022 Ekka show in Brisbane that often does the rounds on social media. And a couple of years ago, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's aids tried to shield him from the cameras using his jacket, but it didn't stop photographers from getting a short clip of him wolfing down his snag. But for Annette award for the most disastrous attempt to eat a sausage still goes to a now retired former Prime Ministerial hopeful. 'Nothing is ever going to eclipse Bill Shorten, right? That's an all-time classic,' she said. 'I feel like after that, they've all been trained in eating democracy sausages.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Where to find a democracy sausage on May 3 federal election day
Volunteers across the nation have begun wiping down trestle tables and refilling barbecue gas bottles in anticipation of Saturday's democracy sausage frenzy. Primary schools and scout halls will be streaming with campaigners, politicians and voters exercising their democratic rights, as Australia decides who will come to power in the 2025 federal election. The atmosphere? Buzzing. The tension? Palpable. The aroma in the air? The sweet, savoury scent of a Woolworths snag and onions sizzling on a grill. Because for many Aussies, casting a ballot isn't complete without indulging in a national delicacy: the democracy sausage. What is a 'democracy sausage'? A democracy sausage is the term given to the snag in bread you can buy from the many sausage sizzles held at polling booths on election day. Often accompanied by a cake stall, the proceeds from the goods generally go to a local fundraising cause. Much like eating a snag in the Bunning's car park or having vegemite on toast for breakfast, a democracy sausage on election day is viewed by many as a quintessential Aussie tradition. Where can I find a democracy sausage? To help voters find their nearest polling booth slinging snags, the Democracy Sausage team have published an interactive map of the world which lists the location of sausage sizzles and cake stalls open on Saturday. With more than 1800 listings using crowdsourced data, the comprehensive interactive map was designed to help inform citizens eager to make an education decision about which voting booth they attend. The map extends beyond our home girt by sea, with expats across the globe informing the Democracy Sausage team of their plans to get grilling. Some of the international stalls have been listed in Japan, US, South Africa, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and even Antarctica. The information for voters attending the Casey Station in Antarctica is simply 'cold', while a US based AFL club in San Francisco have set up a stall to fund their 2025 season. In New York, two Aussies abroad said they have 'taken over an NYC hotdog cart and turned it into the OFFICIAL Democracy Sausage Cart 2025 to bring you a taste of Australia'. Although a record number of people enrolled to vote have done so early, the Democracy Sausage team are still expecting a large turnout of people eager for a sausage in bread or a sweet treat while they cast their vote on election day.
