In brief
A survey by the independent McKinnon think tank shows almost three‑quarters of Australians believe the country is more divided than a month ago, with 41.9% strongly agreeing and another 32.5% somewhat agreeing. Trust in federal politicians fell to 30.5% from 35.9% a year earlier, and confidence in political parties dropped to 24.4% from 31.2%. The study notes a widening divide along education lines. The findings were echoed by The Hawk and the Sydney Morning Herald, reporting a 74.4% split on the divided‑nation question.
In a survey conducted in June and July by the independent McKinnon think‑tank, 74.4% of Australians said their country is more divided now than a year ago, with 41.9% strongly agreeing and 32.5% somewhat agreeing, Canberra, Nov. 2 – a figure that also appears in reports from The Hawk and the Sydney Morning Herald.
The poll, which polled over 4,000 Australians, found that 30.5% of respondents now trust federal politicians at a high level compared to 35.9% last year, while trust in political parties fell to 24.4% from 31.2% a year earlier.
Overall satisfaction with Australia’s direction also slid, with 26.1% finding themselves very or somewhat satisfied compared to 28.8% in 2025. Dissatisfaction rose by 7.2 percentage points, and low trust in the federal government increased from 46.3% to 52.8% in 2026.
John Thwaites, McKinnon’s interim executive chair and former Victorian deputy premier, said:
“Australians have considerably more confidence in the institutions of democracy than they do in the politics conducted within them.”
Thwaites added that the survey reveals a sharp split by education: satisfaction with democracy is 59% among those holding a university degree or higher, versus 39.7% for those whose highest qualification is high school or below.
Other respondents indicated growing scepticism about representation: 34.6% strongly disagreed that federal politicians understand their interests, compared to 27.0% a year earlier, while a similar rise in low trust in politicians was noted.