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MARK EVANS, MAX HALUPKA AND GERRY STOKER

THE POWER OF ONE VOICE – POWER, POWERLESSNESS AND AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRACY

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This is the first output from an exciting new partnership between the Institute for Governance and the Museum of Australian Democracy (MOAD) at Old Parliament House. The initial purpose of the partnership was to develop a survey tool to provide data to underpin the museum’s new exhibition ‘The Power of One: Does Your Voice Count’ but it has subsequently broadened out to a more ambitious agenda to: 1. produce high quality research on the changing nature of democratic engagement in Australia

and internationally;2. heighten public awareness of problems in Australian democracy;3. provide a repository of national and international better practice in terms of democratic

innovations;4. design and analyse unique data sets on the qualities of Australian democracy and (where

appropriate) processes of democratisation internationally;5. co-design education programmes that explore the qualities of Australian democracy and (where

appropriate) processes of democratisation internationally;6. make full use of a unique space for disseminating our research findings and debating future

democratic governance; and,7. co-author innovative ways of visualising and imagining Australian democracy. This particular report provides a snapshot of the key findings of a survey conducted in February 2014 in which Ipsos asked a representative sample of Australians to consider various issues regarding Australian democracy and their role in making it work. The report that follows was authored by Mark Evans, Max Halupka and Gerry Stoker with significant input from colleagues in the Institute and the Museum. We would therefore like to thank several people who helped us to design the questionnaire and provided comment and support in the development of this survey. This includes Rachael Coghlan, Coco Hu, Henrik Bang, Mike Chisnall, John Dryzek, Selen Ercan, Paul Fawcett, Mike Jensen, Daryl Karp, David Marsh, Nilima Mathai, Brendan McCaffrie, Leonie Pearson and Richard Reid. Any errors or omissions, however, remain the fault of the authors alone.

About this report

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What is new about this survey?This is the first survey of Australian democracy that has asked citizens serious questions about their engagement in conventional and contemporary forms of participation. Other surveys have been obsessed with collecting time series data and asking consistent but conservative questions about the nature of participation rather than putting new questions to Australian citizens designed to identify emerging patterns of engagement in a digital age. If information is the life blood of politics then this survey gives us original data on how citizens get their information about politics. It explores what citizens like and dislike about Australian democracy, what kinds of political action they see as the most effective and what reforms would have the biggest impact. Crucially, it also provides us with a strong insight into what Australians think about the nature of the current politics on offer. This survey provides a real opportunity to explore what citizens want to see in the future and where they think change should be made. Our survey offers a sense of not only where we are but what Australian democracy might look like in the future.

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What do Australians like about the way democracy works in Australia today? Australians really like the way democracy works and we’re proud of it! We see our peaceful and stable political history as our best democratic achievement. Australians also treasure free and fair elections and the freedom to express ourselves without fear of persecution. These democratic values are felt much more strongly by older generations but seem to diminish in importance as we get younger. This is not to say that the younger generations don’t like their democracy. Rather, young people are somewhat more cynical and quizzical than their more experienced elders.1

Table 1: What do you like about the way democracy works in Australia today?

Builders Boomers Gen X Gen Y Total

Australia has had a peaceful and stable political history 52% 41% 29% 25% 37%

Australian elections are free and fair 45% 37% 38% 25% 36%

The battle between the two main political parties makes politics fun 3% 3% 5% 6% 4%

There are a range of political parties which represent different points of view 18% 24% 21% 14% 19%

Minor parties and independents often hold the balance of power 18% 16% 10% 13% 14%

My local member is a good representative for my community 14% 7% 5% 6% 8%

Politicians are accountable to the people 20% 20% 12% 10% 16%

Politicians usually find a good middle-ground on policy 0% 3% 2% 4% 3%

I don’t have to pay much attention to politics except at election time 2% 7% 9% 12% 8%

Big corporations and wealthy people don’t have too much influence 2% 4% 2% 4% 3%

I have the chance to participate in decisions that affect me and my community if I want to

29% 26% 18% 15% 22%

I can defend my interests and freedoms if I need to 10% 13% 9% 13% 11%

Australia has experienced a good economy and lifestyle 28% 26% 29% 20% 25%

Australia has been able to provide good education, health, welfare and other public services to its citizens

41% 39% 32% 25% 34%

Other (Please specify) 1% 2% 2% 1% 2%

None of the above 0% 4% 13% 19% 9%

1. Our generations are: Builders (1925-1945); Baby Boomers (1946-1964); Generation X (1965-1979); and Generation Y (1980-1994).

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What do Australians dislike about the way democracy works in Australia today?While there is much to love about Australia’s democracy, being able to express what we dislike about it is something that we pride ourselves on. Generally speaking, Australians take issue with the way in which power is distributed in their democratic system. They feel that both media and big business wield too much political power, and that they don’t have our best interests at heart. While the older generations are most sceptical of minor parties holding too much power in our democracy, the youth feel that politicians need to be held more accountable for broken promises. This is in keeping with earlier research that we conducted in which we found that the vast majority of adult Australians believe that they have little or no influence over national decision-making. The least powerless age group are citizens aged 18 to 24 (83%) and the most powerless age group are citizens aged 35 to 44 (91%).2

2. Evans, M. Stoker, G. and Nasir, J. 2013. How do Australians Imagine Their Democracy? 2013 Australian Survey of Political Engagement. Canberra: ANZSIG. Available online at: http://www.governanceinstitute.edu.au/magma/media/upload/ckeditor/files/DEMOCRACY%20REPORT-%20final(1).pdf

Table 2: What do you dislike about the way democracy works in Australia today?

Builders Boomers Gen X Gen Y Total

I don’t feel that I have a say 3% 4% 8% 10% 6%

We don’t get much choice; political parties are too similar 20% 16% 23% 25% 21%

Big business has too much power 32% 31% 26% 26% 29%

The media has too much power 49% 39% 27% 24% 35%

Women are not well represented within politics 10% 8% 6% 11% 8%

People from diverse cultures are not well represented within politics 6% 4% 5% 9% 6%

Young people are not well represented within politics 1% 4% 2% 11% 5%

Too much compromise and not enough decisive action 21% 25% 20% 10% 19%

Minor parties and independents hold too much power 43% 24% 13% 8% 22%

The battle between the two main political parties puts me off politics 7% 19% 13% 14% 13%

The media focuses too much on personalities and not enough on policy 37% 33% 22% 15% 27%

Politicians don’t deal with the issues that really matter 20% 32% 22% 20% 24%

Politicians can’t be held to account for broken promises 35% 37% 37% 27% 34%

Other (Please specify) 4% 3% 3% 2% 3%

None of the above 1% 1% 11% 14% 7%

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What do Australians dislike most about their political system?While Australians continue to exhibit a strong belief in liberal democratic values they are very dissatisfied with the nature of politics on offer which they associate with the untrustworthy contemporary politician and the adversarial system of government. This is in keeping with earlier research we conducted which showed that Australian citizens think about their relationship with the political system in a complex manner and their willingness to engage is not fixed but conditional. In short, Australians react to democracy on the basis of their negative lived experience of the adversarial nature of contemporary politics.3

Figure 1: Australian memories of first time voting

3. Ibid.

How do Australians engage in politics?The way in which people engage in politics is changing, and it is the youth who are leading the way. Older generations prefer to participate in more traditional forms of engagement, such as protests, campaigns, and contacting parliamentary representatives. The youth prefer more contemporary forms of political participation, such as joining online advocacy groups, and using social media to get informed, and inform others. All age groups engage in their democracy, though they like to do so in a manner which mirrors the social and technological developments of their time. Different generations simply think differently about how they engage.

Table 3: Traditional Forms

Active Role

Political Party

Contact Member

DemonstrationStood for

OfficeCampaign Boycott Petition

Combined 'Yes' Results

SQ1 Age Builders 145 40 133 39 8 54 79 161 659

Boomers 112 23 101 45 3 38 63 151 536

Generation X 78 7 60 32 4 26 58 131 396

Generation Y 62 20 49 30 14 28 55 106 364

Total 397 90 343 146 29 146 255 550 1956

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Table 4: Contemporary Forms

Social MediaBlogs and

ArticlesE-campaign

Online Advocacy Group

Crowd FundingCombined 'Yes'

Results

SQ1 Age Builders 46 25 26 27 5 129

Boomers 57 29 46 25 10 167

Generation X 75 23 55 29 14 196

Generation Y 77 46 72 29 29 253

Total 255 123 200 110 58 746

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Builders   Boomers   Genera7on  X   Genera7on  Y  

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Combined  'Yes'  Results    

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Builders   Boomers   Genera4on  X   Genera4on  Y  

Contemporary  Forms  of  Engagement  

Combinded  'Yes'  Results  

So young Australians aren’t apathetic?Young citizens are a sail and not an anchor for the ship of Australian democracy. Our findings challenge negative stereotypes of the apathetic Generation Y and give grounds for optimism because they show that within Australian youth are citizens with the enthusiasm and capacity to change the direction of Australian politics. In short, it is not that young people do not participate in politics; rather that they participate differently through different channels.

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Q1 What year did you first vote in Australian Federal election?

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Figure 2: Social media

Figure 3: E-campaigns

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Q1 What year did you first vote in Australian Federal election?

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Do men and women have different views on Australian democracy?Men and Women are from Mars. The views of men and women on the nature of contemporary politics are remarkably uniform. Similar patterns of attitudes can be found in relation to the ways in which they engage and how they conceptualise alternative democratic futures. Indeed it may be one of the few areas of social life where the battle of the sexes has forged an unconscious truce.

Table 5: Satisfaction with the way democracy works by gender

Is there an Australian view on democracy?Australians thinks about politics like… Australians! Our data clearly demonstrates that Australians are remarkably uniform in their attitudes towards democracy and the political system irrespective of their state of origin or whether they live in rural or metropolitan Australia.

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Very satisfied Fairly satisfied Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

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Q6 How satisfied are you with the way democracy works in Australia

Male

Female

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How would Australians improve Australian democracy?Australians think that their democracy works quite well but could be improved in important ways. We could limit the money politicians spend on election campaigns and how much they can accept from donors. The representative element of democracy could be improved, with the right to recall our MP for re-election if she/he fails to provide effective representation in Parliament. In addition, we want our MPs to have a free vote in Parliament, to not be forced to vote with the party, and instead, better represent the needs of their community. We would also like more local decision-making.

Table 6: Which three of the following proposals do you think would have the biggest positive impact on Australian democracy?

Builders Boomers Gen X Gen Y Total

Citizens’ juries 14% 18% 24% 22% 19%

Online plebiscites 15% 12% 15% 12% 13%

Citizens’ legislature 8% 11% 17% 20% 14%

A lower voting age 0% 3% 2% 5% 3%

A maximum voting age 1% 3% 8% 12% 6%

Optional preferential voting or a ‘none of the above’ option 32% 36% 24% 24% 29%

Caps on political advertising and donations 53% 44% 36% 30% 41%

Party democratisation 28% 18% 12% 16% 18%

Increased role for local decision 21% 18% 26% 19% 21%

Right of recall for MPs 38% 43% 37% 25% 36%

Reducing the size of electorates 17% 13% 14% 16% 15%

Allowing all MPs a free vote in Parliament 55% 40% 34% 23% 38%

Is there a space here for a new politics?Our data suggests that Australian citizens would respond positively to a new politics that seeks to integrate representative and participatory forms of democracy. While they want politicians to get on with the job and be more accountable for their actions they also want a more open, local and digital politics that is less dominated by self-interested politicians and business interests. The image of politics they most strongly embrace is expressed in using participation to shore up representative democracy and develop a more integrated, inclusive and responsive democratic system.

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Survey details Our survey was conducted by Ipsos, a respected social research company, in January 2014 and was designed to capture a representative sample from each of the four Australian generations that we were interested in. The breakdown of those surveyed is provided in Table 7. The sample was derived from members of an online panel recruited to participate in both qualitative and quantitative market and social research studies by Ipsos. Panel members – consisting of 180,000 Australians – receive survey invitations via email to complete online surveys and they receive an incentive for their time and effort. To recruit our required sample, appropriate panel members were randomly drawn from the population to receive an invitation to the survey. Re-sampling was managed through the data-collection period by reminders to those already sampled and re-sampling (following the above procedure) if required. All surveys have their limitations but the range and variety of questions we were able to ask through our survey instrument took on average less than twenty minutes to complete and provides a rich source of understanding of the attitudes of different generations of Australians to their democracy and how it works.

Characteristics of Sample

Year of birth

1925-1945 (Builders)

1946-1964 (Baby

Boomers)

1965-1979 (Generation X)

1980-1995 (Generation Y)

GenderMale 105 112 112 100

Female 101 100 100 100

LocationMetro 156 160 158 156

Regional 50 50 52 44

Total 206 210 210 200

Table 7: Details of respondents

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For more information:

Professor Mark Evans

P: 02 6201 2074

E: mark.evans@canberra.edu.au

W: www.governanceinstitute.edu.au