Australians have expressed strong support for the nation’s democratic system, according to the latest McKinnon Poll from McKinnon.

The McKinnon Poll, conducted by JWS Research, surveyed 3000 voters (national sample, demographically weighted) on their attitudes to political polarisation and social cohesion. The survey was conducted in late July 2024. 

Six in 10 voters agreed compulsory voting improves democracy, while just 14% disagreed. Some 58% believe their vote makes a difference, far outstripping those who think it doesn’t at 17%. 

Eight in 10 Australians had complete, high or moderate trust in our electoral commissions. 

However, while there was strong support for our democracy, the survey revealed some concerning trends. 

A majority of people feel the country has become more divided when compared to five years ago, with 27% now feeling that Australia is extremely or very divided on key political, economic and social issues, with a further 50% thinking that Australia is somewhat divided. 

To advance a cause they care about, around one-third of Gen Z voters (18-24), and around a quarter of Millennial voters (25-40) were prepared to support practices including encouraging or using violence, sending threatening or intimidating messages to Members of Parliament, damaging property, vandalising government offices and lying. 

Support for those tactics fell along generational lines, with between just 2% and 4% of people over the age of 55 backing these practices. 

A majority of Australians believe both extreme left views and extreme right views are a serious threat to our country. However, the research found that those with stronger political views were more likely to blame the other side. Those on the left were much more likely to think extreme right views were a problem and those on the right were much more likely to think extreme left views were a problem. 

Almost 1 in 5 Australians said they could not be friends with people with different political views to their own, although only 7% said that they wouldn’t help someone in need if they had very different political opinions. 

A clear majority agreed the Government should take action to address extreme views and intolerance in our community, with stronger laws to prosecute people who go too far, stronger laws on social media companies to stop extreme content going viral and early intervention programs for at risk young people seen as most likely to be effective. 

McKinnon Poll program lead Matt Crocker said: 

“This survey shows that our democracy remains strong, but there are some emerging areas of concern.” 

“While young people have always been passionate for social change, younger people appear more willing to support some practices that can undermine safety and circumvent our democracy” 

“The high level of support for some of these practices is surprising and concerning.” 

“The survey shows Australians are feeling more divided than we were five years ago, and the community is concerned that those voices on the extremes are becoming more prominent. 

“However, we take our right to vote seriously, we’re prepared to help others when they are in need, and as a community we trust our electoral commissions to run free and fair elections.” 

“There is clearly strong support for governments to lead a national conversation on what can be done to address these areas of concern.”  

McKinnon has been running the McKinnon Poll since 2021. Over this time, 8 polls have been conducted into different significant policy issues. JWS Research conducts the McKinnon Poll on behalf of McKinnon. 

The McKinnon Poll combines qualitative in-depth expert interviews and focus group discussions, as well as a quantitative online national survey of 3,000 Australian adults. Through this rigorous methodology, the program aims to encourage better policymaking by providing a richer and more in-depth understanding of public opinion as an input into the policymaking process.