Reading behind the ballot papers
Australian voters have turned away from the major parties, but are they disillusioned, apathetic, or just plain angry?
“There is no doubt that there is a level of disillusionment with politics, with government and with the major parties, our own included.” – Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, July 5, 2016.
Both major political parties were losers in Australia’s 2016 federal election as voters turned instead to minor parties and independents. Is this glorious democracy in action or are there deeper questions of trust as play? Are people losing faith in the system?
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne Professor Glyn Davis is joined by Dr Andrea Carson, from the School of Social and Political Sciences and Vote Compass, and Dr Lauren Rosewarne, also from the School of Social and Political Sciences.
You can read Andrew Trounson’s scene setter here with Professor Lisa Hill, from the University of Adelaide, and Nicholas Reece, Principal Fellow at the University of Melbourne.
The Policy Shop is a monthly podcast where we discuss public policy and the way it affects Australia and the world. Hosted every month by Professor Davis, each podcast, featuring national and international guests, will examine a different public policy subject.
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Banner image: Australian Electoral Commission
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