A national survey of more than 4,000 people found that just over half were satisfied with the way democracy worked, while just over a third said they trusted federal politicians.
Nearly nine percent of respondents agreed that violence could be justified on political grounds, including a small share who strongly agreed with that position, according to the inaugural McKinnon Index released Sunday.
The findings follow rising violence at political rallies in major cities, with police and protesters injured at anti-immigration and pro-Palestinian events.
“This index shows that while our institutions are largely respected, too many Australians feel their leaders are not listening or delivering,” said Mike Baird, CEO of McKinnon and former NSW Liberal Premier.
“Trust is the foundation of effective governance – rebuilding it is essential for a fairer and stronger Australia.”
The new annual McKinnon Survey is designed to measure the country’s democratic health, assessing trust in leaders, the effectiveness of governments and confidence in the courts and justice systems.
It found that more than three-quarters of Australians believed democracy was preferable to any other form of government, while more than half had confidence in the integrity and effectiveness of the courts and public institutions.
The survey of more than 4,400 people found that state politicians were perceived as more trustworthy than their federal counterparts, but trust varied widely across jurisdictions.
Trust in the federal government was highest in the ACT, at more than 50 per cent, while Queenslanders were the most disillusioned, with just over 30 per cent saying they trusted national authorities.
Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, trust in the federal government fell to just 18.5 percent.
Trust in politicians was also weak, with only 36 percent of people across the country saying they trusted federal MPs.
Nationwide, less than 50 percent view elections as free and fair, while 17 percent admit to voting only to avoid fines.
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