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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jul/18/guardian-essential-poll-finds-most-voters-sick-of-australias-polarised-politics
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| Guardian Essential poll finds most voters sick of Australia's polarised politics | Guardian Essential poll finds most voters sick of Australia's polarised politics |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Australian voters are resoundingly sick of their bitterly polarised politics and a sizeable group says they would consider voting for a new centrist political party, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll. | Australian voters are resoundingly sick of their bitterly polarised politics and a sizeable group says they would consider voting for a new centrist political party, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll. |
| The new survey of 1,830 voters found 71% agreement with the statement “I wish both sides of politics would try to meet each other in the middle more often” and 45% said they would consider voting for a new party that took ideas from both sides of politics. | The new survey of 1,830 voters found 71% agreement with the statement “I wish both sides of politics would try to meet each other in the middle more often” and 45% said they would consider voting for a new party that took ideas from both sides of politics. |
| A total of 45% of the sample agreed with the statement, “Political parties in Australia are too ideological.” | A total of 45% of the sample agreed with the statement, “Political parties in Australia are too ideological.” |
| The latest weekly opinion survey has Labor continuing with a commanding lead over the Coalition on the two-party preferred measure, 54% to 46% – which is the same result as last week. | The latest weekly opinion survey has Labor continuing with a commanding lead over the Coalition on the two-party preferred measure, 54% to 46% – which is the same result as last week. |
| With marriage equality once again creating tension within government ranks, this week’s poll finds 61% support for the legalisation of same-sex marriage,and 26% opposition. | With marriage equality once again creating tension within government ranks, this week’s poll finds 61% support for the legalisation of same-sex marriage,and 26% opposition. |
| Women are more likely than men to support marriage equality and young people are considerably more supportive of the concept than voters over 65. | Women are more likely than men to support marriage equality and young people are considerably more supportive of the concept than voters over 65. |
| According to the survey, 81% of 18 to 24-year-olds support same-sex marriage, compared with 46% of over 65-year-olds. | According to the survey, 81% of 18 to 24-year-olds support same-sex marriage, compared with 46% of over 65-year-olds. |
| While the Liberal senator Dean Smith has signalled he will press ahead once parliament resumes with a private member’s bill legalising same-sex marriage – a development that will trigger a discussion within the Liberal party about whether to move away from a plebiscite policy to a conscience vote position – the survey indicates voters are divided about how they would like the issue resolved. | While the Liberal senator Dean Smith has signalled he will press ahead once parliament resumes with a private member’s bill legalising same-sex marriage – a development that will trigger a discussion within the Liberal party about whether to move away from a plebiscite policy to a conscience vote position – the survey indicates voters are divided about how they would like the issue resolved. |
| Of the respondents, 50% said they wanted a national vote that would be binding on parliament, 23% favoured a vote in parliament without a preceding national vote and only 9% want a national vote followed by a conscience vote in parliament. | Of the respondents, 50% said they wanted a national vote that would be binding on parliament, 23% favoured a vote in parliament without a preceding national vote and only 9% want a national vote followed by a conscience vote in parliament. |
| The voters most likely to favour a parliamentary vote, minus a plebiscite, were Greens voters (39%), voters aged over 65 (32%), university educated voters (29%) and people who support same-sex marriage (29%). | The voters most likely to favour a parliamentary vote, minus a plebiscite, were Greens voters (39%), voters aged over 65 (32%), university educated voters (29%) and people who support same-sex marriage (29%). |
| With disillusioned voters breaking away from the major parties in increasing numbers, the Guardian Essential survey asked a number of questions seeking to ascertain whether Australian voters would be attracted to a new centrist political party. | With disillusioned voters breaking away from the major parties in increasing numbers, the Guardian Essential survey asked a number of questions seeking to ascertain whether Australian voters would be attracted to a new centrist political party. |
| Thirty-seven per cent of the sample thought there was no substantial difference between the policies of the Liberal party and the Labor party – which perhaps explains the high level of frustration (71%) with the current levels of polarisation in the Australian political discussion. | Thirty-seven per cent of the sample thought there was no substantial difference between the policies of the Liberal party and the Labor party – which perhaps explains the high level of frustration (71%) with the current levels of polarisation in the Australian political discussion. |
| Half the sample indicated it was not tribal, agreeing with the statement: “I don’t personally identify with either left-wing or right-wing politics.” | Half the sample indicated it was not tribal, agreeing with the statement: “I don’t personally identify with either left-wing or right-wing politics.” |
| There was one contradictory answer in the sequence of six questions. While 45% expressed interest in a new centrist party, a further 43% said Australia didn’t need any more new political parties. | There was one contradictory answer in the sequence of six questions. While 45% expressed interest in a new centrist party, a further 43% said Australia didn’t need any more new political parties. |
| Voters were also asked whether they had favourable impressions of several world leaders with different ideological persuasions. | Voters were also asked whether they had favourable impressions of several world leaders with different ideological persuasions. |
| Respondents were most likely to have a favourable view of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau (51%), German chancellor Angela Merkel (43%) and French president Emmanuel Macron (41%) – two politicians from the centre-left and one from the centre-right. | Respondents were most likely to have a favourable view of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau (51%), German chancellor Angela Merkel (43%) and French president Emmanuel Macron (41%) – two politicians from the centre-left and one from the centre-right. |
| Further down the pecking order was the British prime minister, Theresa May, on 33% support. | Further down the pecking order was the British prime minister, Theresa May, on 33% support. |
| The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, had an identical favourability rating to the US president, Donald Trump – 16% – and the North Korean chairman, Kim Jong-un, got the thumbs up from 6% of the sample. | The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, had an identical favourability rating to the US president, Donald Trump – 16% – and the North Korean chairman, Kim Jong-un, got the thumbs up from 6% of the sample. |
| Coalition voters were more likely than average to have a favourable view of Theresa May (46%) and Donald Trump (23%). | Coalition voters were more likely than average to have a favourable view of Theresa May (46%) and Donald Trump (23%). |
| Labor voters did not differ much from the average – except for their low rating of Trump (9% favourable). | Labor voters did not differ much from the average – except for their low rating of Trump (9% favourable). |
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