More broadly, three-quarters of Australians agree democracy is preferable to any other system, but only about half say they are satisfied with the way it functions in Australia today.
Those who are university educated, politically engaged and earning higher incomes expressed higher satisfaction, while dissatisfaction is concentrated among those with a poor sense of belonging or severe anxiety.
Meanwhile, about 65 per cent of Australians are confident in the country’s election outcomes, according to the survey.
Confidence in election outcomes is lowest among First Nations people, those living in remote areas, and people who use social media or gaming for news, while it is highest among those based in the ACT, people with postgraduate degrees, and those who are older or on higher incomes.
Trust in state governments is also highest in the ACT, with half of its respondents indicating “high trust”, followed by Western Australia (49 per cent) and South Australia (46 per cent). Tasmanians recorded the lowest trust in their government at 29 per cent, with the research noting this was at a time when a snap election had been called in the state.
Satisfaction with the education and health systems was highest in the Northern Territory at 52 per cent and 61 per cent, respectively, while Tasmanians expressed the lowest levels of satisfaction at 36 per cent and 35 per cent.
McKinnon chief executive Mike Baird said the results indicated that no state or territory gets everything right, but that each demonstrated strengths in different areas.
“What is clear is that where governments and parliaments are stable, and where they consistently deliver for citizens, public confidence is higher,” he said.
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