Aussies Debate the 'Democracy Sausage' Tradition Before Election Day
Sausage sanga with caramelised onions and Aussie flag – Image created by ChatGPT with DALL·E by OpenAI.
VOCABULARY LIST
Democracy sausage (noun) /dəˈmɒkrəsi ˈsɒsɪdʒ/: A sausage sandwich sold at polling stations in Australia during elections.
Example: I grabbed a democracy sausage after casting my vote.Sausage sizzle (noun) /ˈsɒsɪdʒ ˈsɪzəl/: A casual outdoor event where sausages are cooked on a barbecue and sold, often to raise money.
Example: The school held a sausage sizzle to raise funds.Snag (noun) /snæg/: Aussie slang for a sausage.
Example: Throw a few snags on the barbie!Polling booth (noun) /ˈpəʊlɪŋ buθ/: A place where people go to vote.
Example: Voters lined up outside the polling booth early in the morning.Caramelised (adjective) /ˈkærəməlaɪzd/: Cooked until browned and sweet, usually referring to onions.
Example: The caramelised onions made the burger extra tasty.Tradition (noun) /trəˈdɪʃən/: A custom or belief passed down through generations.
Example: It’s a tradition to eat pavlova on Christmas Day.Foundation (noun) /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/: The base or beginning of something.
Example: Good communication is the foundation of strong relationships.Purist (noun) /ˈpjʊərəst/: Someone who believes in keeping things traditional and unchanged.
Example: He's a purist when it comes to making coffee.Partial to (phrase) /ˈpɑʃəl tu/: Liking something a lot.
Example: I’m partial to a lamington with my tea.Un-Australian (adjective) /ʌn-əˈstreɪliən/: Not typical or characteristic of Australian culture.
Example: Leaving a cricket match early is considered un-Australian.
ARTICLE
As the federal election approaches, Australians are having a fun debate: should onions go over or under the famous democracy sausage?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared his opinion. Although he is known for being progressive, he seems to be a traditionalist when it comes to sausage sandwiches. During a recent visit to Punchbowl, he was seen handing out democracy sausages — with the onions clearly placed on top of the sausage.
New research by Australian Onions shows that one in three Aussies now prefer onions first, then sausage. However, Mr Albanese appears to support the traditional way — sausage first, onions on top. NewsWire has asked him to confirm.
Melbourne voters will get a chance to have their say at a free sausage sizzle before election day. In the meantime, experts have joined the debate.
Alex Dawson from DemocracySausage.org — a website that helps voters find sausage sizzles — shared his thoughts. He prefers onions underneath the sausage, saying it gives a better flavour and leaves space for more sauce. He joked that the democracy sausage is almost "part of the constitution" and brings back happy memories for many Aussies.
Food expert Jane de Graaff agreed that onions are essential. She said the smell of caramelised onions is what makes a BBQ special. Jane believes there’s no right or wrong way — it’s all about personal taste. She said the democracy sausage shows the Aussie spirit: community, connection, and a good feed while having your say.
No matter how you build your sausage sandwich, one thing is clear — the democracy sausage is a much-loved Aussie tradition.
SOURCE:
This article is based on: https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/democracy-sausage-huge-question-ahead-of-election-day/news-story/f90da34a9d9df6a2078d84ec6dc248a1
Reflection Questions
Instructions:
Use these questions as:
– Speaking practice (e.g. talk to yourself, record and listen back)
– Writing practice (e.g. short paragraph answers)
– Class discussion with your teacher or classmates
Have you ever joined a barbecue or sausage sizzle? What was it like?
What food traditions do people follow in your country during special events?
Would you put onions over or under the sausage? Why?
Do you think food is an important part of voting day?
How does food help bring people together in your culture?
Comprehension activity - multiple choice
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