The Power of One Voice – Power, Powerlessness and

THE POWER OF ONE VOICE –
POWER, POWERLESSNESS AND AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRACY
MARK EVANS, MAX HALUPKA AND GERRY STOKER
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About this report
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.
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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%
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%
41%
39%
32%
25%
34%
Other (Please specify)
1%
2%
2%
1%
2%
None of the above
0%
4%
13%
19%
9%
I have the chance to participate in decisions that affect me and my community if
I want to
Australia has been able to provide good education, health, welfare and other
public services to its citizens
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
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%
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
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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
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
SQ1 Age
Total
Active
Political
Contact
Role
Party
Member
Builders
145
40
133
39
Boomers
112
23
101
Generation X
78
7
Generation Y
62
397
Demonstration
Stood for
Combined 'Yes'
Campaign
Boycott
Petition
8
54
79
161
659
45
3
38
63
151
536
60
32
4
26
58
131
396
20
49
30
14
28
55
106
364
90
343
146
29
146
255
550
1956
3. Ibid.
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Office
Results
Contemporary Forms of Engagement Tradi&onal Forms of Engagement 700 300 600 250 500 200 400 150 Combined 'Yes' Results 300 200 50 100 0 Combinded 'Yes' Results 100 Builders Boomers Genera7on X 0 Genera7on Y Builders Boomers Genera4on X Genera4on Y 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.
Table 4: Contemporary Forms
Blogs and
Social Media
SQ1 Age
Online
E-campaign
Articles
Advocacy Group
Crowd Funding
Combined 'Yes'
Results
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
255
123
200
110
58
746
Total
Figure 2: Social media
Social Media
18
16
Response
14
12
10
8
Yes
6
4
2013
2010
2007
2001
2004
1998
1996
1993
1990
1987
1983
1984
1980
1977
1975
1972
1974
1969
1966
1963
1961
1958
1955
1951
1954
1949
1946
1943
0
1922
2
Q1 What year did you first vote in Australian Federal election?
Figure 3: E-campaigns
E-campaigns
18
16
12
10
8
Yes
6
4
Q1 What year did you first vote in Australian Federal election?
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2013
2010
2007
2004
2001
1998
1996
1993
1990
1987
1984
1983
1980
1977
1975
1974
1972
1969
1966
1963
1961
1958
1955
1954
1951
1949
1946
0
1943
2
1922
Response
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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
250
200
150
Male
Female
100
50
0
Very satisfied
Fairly satisfied
Neither satisfied Fairly dissatisfied Very dissatisfied
nor dissatisfied
Don’t know
Q6 How satisfied are you with the way democracy works in Australia
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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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.
Table 7: Details of respondents
Year of birth
Characteristics of
Sample
Gender
Location
Total
1925-1945
(Builders)
1946-1964
(Baby
Boomers)
1965-1979
1980-1995
(Generation X)
(Generation Y)
Male
105
112
112
100
Female
101
100
100
100
Metro
156
160
158
156
Regional
50
50
52
44
206
210
210
200
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For more information:
Professor Mark Evans
P: 02 6201 2074
E: [email protected]
W: www.governanceinstitute.edu.au
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