In a major review of the 2016 election, Australian National University researchers have found 40 per cent of voters are not satisfied with democracy in Australia. It is the lowest level of voter satisfaction since the 1975 dismissal of Gough Whitlam.
The ANU study shows dissatisfaction is particularly prevalent among Australians aged in their thirties, but also among people who are from low socioeconomic areas.
Lead researcher Professor Ian McAllister said politicians need to learn to better connect with voters.
“Political parties in Australia are not really connecting well with younger people and that's part of the problem. They're not using social media and they're not developing memberships among younger people,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“We know that voters in Australia like clear signals. They like parties to be clear about what they're standing for."
Dr Jill Sheppard from the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods said the major parties are most to blame, as evident through their declining supporter base.
“They haven't been quick to engage with voters. They've rested on their compulsory voting laurels and the chickens are coming home to roost,” she said.
Trust in the government has also declined from 43 per cent in 2007 to 26 per cent in 2016. It is the lowest level since the ANU began recording such results in 1969.
Professor McAllister said this year's voter reaction is similar to that during the United States election and the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom.
“It's not a crisis of democracy, but what you're seeing is the start of something which has happened overseas. It's coming here and I would have thought this is a wake-up call for the political class that they really need to start addressing this otherwise it's going to continue,” he said.
“Trump largely got elected because of poor economic performance and that was impacting very much on the middle class. We see very similar factors here and that's obviously undermining support and trust in the major political parties and politicians.”
The study also shows many voters do not differentiate between the two major parties and their policies.
“We know that voters in Australia like clear signals. They like parties to be clear about what they're standing for and if voters can't pick between those two parties or they say there's no difference, I mean that's part of that trust in what a party stands for,” Dr Sheppard said.
No love for Bill Shorten
The ANU survey shows that until recently, Australian political leaders have been elected with a good degree of popularity and support.
Kevin Rudd’s 2007 election win was the last time a newly elected Australian Prime Minister enjoyed a high level of popularity. Since then Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull have all managed to secure the parliament without it.
As for what voters think of the current Prime Minister - Malcolm Turnbull is viewed as intelligent and knowledgeable, but not honest or trustworthy.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has more negative evaluations than any major party leader since the ANU began recording such data in 1993. He is perceived as slightly more compassionate than Malcolm Turnbull but not as intelligent or knowledgeable.
The Australian National University has conducted the Australian Election Study following each federal election since 1987, but public opinion on some issues tracks back to 1969.
