The Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA) at the University of Canberra has entered a partnership with the Museum of Australian Democracy (MOAD) at Old Parliament House in Canberra to launch an exhibition exploring the community’s attitudes to Government and democracy.
Director of IGPA, Mark Evans (pictured) said trust in Government had become a “scarce commodity” in recent years.
“That’s the sobering state of our democracy according to years of research by the IGPA,” Professor Evans said.
“In the years since John Howard’s departure from office, democratic satisfaction has decreased steadily across each Government, from 85.6 per cent in 2007 to 41 per cent in August 2018.”
He said the steady decline had been led by older people disgruntled with the Australian political system, but IGPA’s latest survey revealed that women and members of Generation X were the most disenfranchised.
“It’s a narrative IGPA hopes to change,” Professor Evans said.
He said the institute partnered with MOAD to deliver the exhibition, Democracy. Are You In? that explores the relationship between trust, our political system and democracy.
“Everyone says distrust of Government is part of the Australian culture, but if you look at survey data, there has been a stark decline since the John Howard era,” Professor Evans said.
He said this was likely to be the result of some high-profile events that did not play out well in the electorate, including the dismissal of several Prime Ministers.
“The nature of contemporary politics as it’s being played out on the Hill needs to change, because most Australians really think that type of politics is completely disconnected from their everyday lives,” Professor Evans said.
“They’re not interested in politics as blood sport. They’re interested in politics as problem-solving, and they think politicians don’t care about their needs and aspirations.”
Democracy. Are You In? is on display now at the Museum of Australian Democracy in Old Parliament House.
