World Print 2019-12-10

Australians' faith in government hits record low

Australians have less trust in government than at any point on record and are more worried about climate change, according to a wide-ranging study of voter attitudes released Monday.
Published 10 Dec, 2019 12:00am

Australians have less trust in government than at any point on record and are more worried about climate change, according to a wide-ranging study of voter attitudes released Monday.

The 2019 Australian Election Study showed Aussie voters - facing drought, floods and increasingly intense bushfires - have become significantly more concerned about the environment.

Managing Australia's slow-growing economy was the biggest issue for voters at the parliamentary poll in May, which was won by the conservative Liberal Party led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

But around one in five voters saw the environment or climate change as the biggest issue facing the country, double the number seen after the 2016 election.

Voters' belief in politicians and government also fell, echoing the malaise seen in many advanced democracies.

"Trust in government has reached its lowest level on record, with just 25 percent believing people in government can be trusted," said the study, led by academics at the University of Sydney and the Australian National University.

The study polled 2,179 voters after the general election. It has been conducted after every election since 1987.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019

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