The McKinnon Poll seeks to encourage better policymaking by providing a richer and more in-depth understanding of public opinion as an input into the policymaking process. This poll explores public perceptions of partisanship, polarisation and social cohesion, covering:

• attitudes towards democracy in Australia
• attitudes toward undemocratic practices
• how partisan (or not) the Australian public is
• the degree to which partisan animosity exists
• the degree to which Australians feel comfortable discussing controversial issues and how polarised they feel Australia is
• the degree to which Australians feel a sense social cohesion.

The poll reveals a decline in traditional political partisanship, but growing public concern about issue-based polarisation driven by social media and divisive politics. The report underscores the importance of constructive policy dialogue promoting social cohesion to address these challenges.

Key findings

• 61% of Australians agreed compulsory voting improves democracy.
• 80% of Australians had complete, high or moderate trust in electoral commissions.
• 55% of Australians feel the country has become more divided than it was five years ago.
• 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.
• A majority of Australians believe both extreme left views (51%) and extreme right views (53%) are a serious threat to our country.
• 72% agreed the Government should take action to address extreme views and intolerance in our community.
• Honest and ethical behaviour is the most sought-after quality in political leaders, (26%) followed by fairness and equality (25%).