YouGov conducted a national survey of 1,500 voters on behalf of The Australia Institute between 24 and 29 April 2025, using an online survey polling methodology. Full details are provided in the methodology statement. The poll is compliant with the Australian Polling Council’s requirements. The margin of error on the effective sample size is 3.27%.

Securing newspaper endorsements was once a key part of running a successful Australian election campaign, through which Australian media shaped Australian politics. Televised debates between the prime minister and opposition leader were also major campaign events that allowed TV stations to shape the attitudes of a substantial number of voters. However, in the 2022 and 2025 elections, major media companies have been left to bellow from the sidelines.

New Australia Institute polling shows that more than twice as many Australians support a power-sharing arrangement in the next term of parliament as oppose one (41.7% vs 19.7%). And, among Independent and Other voters, more say that independent and minor party MPs holding the balance of power should support the party they believe can negotiate

An analysis of 25 power sharing parliaments in Australia shows that there is great variety in what crossbenchers negotiate in exchange for confidence and supply. Typical areas of negotiation are parliamentary reform, policy reform, more staff and resources and ministerial or presiding officer  positions for crossbenchers.

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,009 Australians about their attitudes to Australian whistleblowers. The survey was developed in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Centre and Whistleblower Justice Fund. The results show that: 86% of Australians support having stronger legal protections for Australian whistleblowers, including more than half (52%) who strongly

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,089 Australians about their attitudes toward truth in political advertising.

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,009 Australians about their awareness of reforms implemented by the Albanese Government and whether they support or oppose those same reforms.

Section 196 of the Electoral Act 2004 (Tas) protects a candidate from having their name or likeness appear in advertising and other electoral material without permission. Bill No. 25 of 2024 would amend the protection in s.196 to how-to-vote cards only, meaning candidate names and likenesses could appear in misleading advertising. The Legislative Council debated

The Democracy Agenda for the 48th Parliament identifies 10 major reforms that would improve parliamentary debate, government accountability and openness and the operation of integrity institutions. Three of the reforms would improve the deliberations of the 48th Parliament of Australia and make other reforms more achievable. These reforms could be agreed to at the beginning

Late last year, the Albanese Government introduced the Electoral Reform Bill, with plans to pass it into law less than two weeks after it became public. Negotiations with the Coalition collapsed, causing the bill to be delayed until the February 2025 sitting. The bill would increase public funding of political parties and candidates, introduce new

In June 2024, Premier Peter Malinauskas proposed the Electoral (Accountability and Integrity) Amendment Bill. He says it meets his election promise to ban political donations in South Australian elections. In November, a revised version of the bill was introduced to Parliament.

Key results The Australia Institute surveyed a representative sample of 1,041 Queensland residents about whether they support 12 policies introduced by the Queensland Labor Government. The results show that: • Each of the 12 policies is supported by most Queenslanders. • The net effect of each of the 12 policies is to make Queenslanders more

The Democracy & Accountability Program has a significant body of work on voter engagement and participation in Australia and on the weaknesses in NSW’s political finance system that could undermine public confidence in democracy in the state.

The proposals highlighted in this submission provide prioritised measures that would make the use of public resources in parliamentary elections more democratic and ensure public money is better spent.

The cost of party and candidate campaigns in the 2022 South Australian election exceeded public funding by $3.3 million. The shortfall was covered with private funding, including political donations.

Australia’s electoral participation is relatively good, though there is significant room for improvement, including doing better to count the votes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and making citizenship more accessible for Australian residents.

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,014 Australians about whether they support public funding for political parties and candidates to run election campaigns and cover administrative costs. The results show that: Three in five (60%) Australians oppose public funding of political parties and candidates. Only one in four (27%) Australians support public

The Electoral Disclosure and Funding Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to address shortcomings of existing electoral laws; however, further amendments are required to adequately account for fairness for new political entrants, allow community voices to engage in elections, and strengthen regulation of corporates and industry bodies seeking to influence elections as third parties.

Parliaments exist to share power, and power sharing has been a feature of Australian parliaments for as long as they have existed: between different interest groups, different communities and different political movements; across the upper and lower houses; within parties (via factions); and between parties (including coalition agreements like those between the Liberals and the Nationals).

This discussion paper describes the evolution of key democratic reforms in Tasmania, principles for a healthy democracy, and details 16 reforms that Tasmanian parliamentarians
– Liberal, Labor, Independent and minor party – could pursue in the 51st Tasmanian Parliament.

NSW political donations laws are opaque; truth in political advertising laws are missing; and donation caps, spending caps and public funding overwhelmingly favour incumbents over new entrants.

An overwhelming majority of voters in the seat of Cook, the electorate of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, support truth in political advertising and a strong National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Australia Institute polling research shows a majority of Tasmanian voters support action on integrity in politics, salmon farming, forestry, and housing affordability.

uComms conducted a survey of 1174 residents across Tasmania on behalf of The Australia Institute during the evening of 04 – 05 March 24 using self-completed automated voice and SMS polling methodologies.

On behalf of The Australia Institute, uComms conducted a survey of 626 residents across the Federal Seat of Dunkley on behalf of The Australia Institute during the evenings of 5 and 6 February 2024 using self-completed automated voice and SMS polling methodologies.

Targeted reforms are needed to introduce transparency and diversity into federal political finance: disclosing political contributions in real time, publishing ministers’ diaries, stopping the very wealthy from dominating election spending, making public funding accessible to new entrants and restricting corporate cash-for-access payments.

New research from the Australia Institute finds Australians consider a wide range of government behaviours as corruption, including cronyism, political expenditure and hobbling or ignoring integrity watchdogs.

New research from the Australia Institute shows more than 60 per cent of ‘No’ voters are concerned about the misinformation and disinformation that circulated on social media during the referendum campaign, with more than 80 per cent of that cohort wanting to see truth in political advertising laws in place before the federal election, expected in 2025.

Truth in political advertising laws are recommended, supported, and overdue in Victoria.

In 2018, the Victorian Parliament made major changes to electoral law in the state, including introducing real-time disclosure of donation, banning foreign donations and limiting anonymous donations.