SYDNEY, Dec 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – 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.
In all some “56 percent of Australians believe that the government is run
for ‘a few big interests’, while just 12 percent believe the government is
run for ‘all the people’.”
The study polled 2,179 voters after the general election. It has been
conducted after every election since 1987.
Since the election there have been several large-scale protests urging the
government to do more to tackle climate change, while Australia is also
experiencing a horrific start to its fire season.
Scientists say the bushfires began earlier and are more extreme this year
due to a prolonged drought and the effects of climate change.