Societal issues
Democracy
Three-quarters of Australians (73%) continue to see democracy as preferable to any other kind of government, unchanged from a record high last year (74%). One in five (19%) say that ‘in some circumstances, a non-democratic government can be preferable’.
Younger Australians are now more likely to see democracy as preferable compared to five years ago, narrowing a long-running age gap on this issue. In 2018, there was a 28-point difference between the percentage of Australians aged under 45 who saw democracy as preferable (47%) and the percentage of those aged 45 and older who said the same (75%). In 2023, that generational difference in views has reduced to 11 points — 67% of that younger age group now see democracy as preferable, compared to 78% of those aged 45 and older.
Democracy
Now a question about democracy. Below are some statements about democracy. Please indicate which one of the three statements comes closest to your own personal views about democracy.
- 0%
- 20%
- 40%
- 60%
- 80%
In 2020, this question was fielded in a separate Lowy Institute nationwide poll in November 2020: see 2021 Methodology for more information.
Indicates change in mode: see 2024 Methodology.
Climate change
In March 2023, during fieldwork for this Poll, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change completed its Sixth Assessment Report, synthesising years of global scientific knowledge on climate change. The landmark report concludes that the world is likely to exceed 1.5 degrees of warming in the near term; adverse impacts and cascading risks will escalate as the planet warms; and the window of opportunity to forestall the worst impacts of climate change is rapidly closing.
In the same month, after fieldwork for this Poll had concluded, the Australian parliament passed a key part of the government’s climate policy, the Safeguard Mechanism Amendment Bill. This followed a federal election last year in which a number of independent candidates were elected on platforms championing stronger action on climate change.
Climate change
Now about global warming. There is a controversy over what the countries of the world, including Australia, should do about the problem of global warming. Please indicate which of the following three statements comes closest to your own point of view.
- 0%
- 10%
- 20%
- 30%
- 40%
- 50%
- 60%
- 70%
Indicates change in mode: see 2024 Methodology.
A majority of Australians (56%) continue to say ‘global warming is a serious and pressing problem’ about which ‘we should begin taking steps now, even if this involves significant costs’, slightly down by four points from 2022. Three in ten (32%) say ‘the problem of global warming should be addressed, but its effects will be gradual, so we can deal with the problem gradually by taking steps that are low in cost’. The remainder (11%) believe ‘until we are sure that global warming is really a problem, we should not take any steps that would have economic costs’.
There is a significant gap between how younger and older Australians respond to this question. Those aged under 30 are far more likely to see global warming as a serious and pressing problem requiring immediate action (72%), compared to a bare majority (53%) of those aged 30 and older who say the same.
Indigenous Voice
In late 2023, Australians will vote in a referendum on whether to alter the Australian Constitution to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The Voice would be an independent body that would give advice to the Australian parliament and government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In this year’s Poll, we asked if introducing the proposed Voice would have an impact on Australia’s international reputation. Australians are almost evenly divided, with 47% saying that a Voice would improve Australia’s reputation, while 44% say it would make no difference. Very few (8%) believe it would damage Australia’s reputation.
Indigenous Voice
Now a question about Australia’s international reputation and the proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament. Do you think introducing the Indigenous Voice to parliament would:
After polling concluded, Opposition leader Peter Dutton formally announced he would oppose the government’s proposal to establish a Voice. There is a stark divide in opinion along political party lines on the Voice’s potential impact on Australia’s reputation. 62% of those who lean towards the Labor Party think the Voice would improve Australia’s international reputation. Of those who lean towards the Liberal or National parties, only 25% say the Voice would improve Australia’s reputation, while 61% say it would make no difference.1
Immigration
Australia’s Covid-19 restrictions saw a significant drop in the country’s annual migrant intake. The easing of those restrictions raised questions about the structure of Australia’s immigration program. In September 2022, the government announced a comprehensive review of Australia’s migration system. That review delivered its findings to the government in March 2023, and was released publicly in April after fieldwork for this Poll had been completed.
In response to a question on immigration in this year’s Poll, a slim majority of Australians (53%) say the number of immigrants allowed into Australia should return to pre-Covid levels. This represents a rise of seven points on 2022. A quarter (26%) say immigration should be ‘lower than pre-Covid levels’, a fall of seven points from 2022, while 20% say it should be ‘higher than pre-Covid levels’.
Australians born overseas do not express significantly higher levels of support for increasing immigration (22%) than those born in Australia (18%). As with the broader population, about half of overseas-born Australians (55%) say immigration levels should be ‘around the same as pre-Covid levels’.