Less than half of Australia's new citizens are satisfied with our democracy, but they are less critical of politics and politicians than other groups, according to new research from Canberra University's Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis.
Researchers from Canberra University's Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis say satisfaction in Australian politics is at an all-time low, and it's likely new Australians will become more sceptical and more distrustful of Australian politics over time.
They are trying to understand why so few Australians trust politicians and the political process.
New findings drawn from a 2016 Ipsos poll found widespread levels of dissatisfaction and distrust of Australian democracy across all groups - but one group is slightly more optimistic about their elected representatives and state institutions. That group is new Australian citizens who have been living in the country since 2006.
Forty-nine per cent of these new citizens are satisfied with Australian democracy, compared with 39 per cent of established Australians.
And while the new citizens appear broadly confident in the federal government's ability to address most key issues, this did not extend to all issues.
For example, 39 per cent did not have confidence in the federal government on the issue of asylum seekers.
Professor Mark Evans from University of Canberra also thinks it is likely new migrants will become increasingly sceptical of Australian democracy over time...
