Australia more divided than in 2019: voters

Almost half of the voters (46%) surveyed by the Crescent Institute think that Australia is more divided since the last election in 2019, with divisions exacerbated by COVID and lockdowns and 42% felt that the country was on the wrong track.

The survey, conducted for the Crescent Institute by Essential Research from 11 to 17 May 2022, also found that this view was consistent across all major religious groups, including ‘no religion’, with 76% of non-Christian faiths believing that the Federal Government was responsible for increased divisions.

Of those who believed Australia was not heading in the right direction, the view was highest amongst the 18-34 (44%) and 35-54 (48%) age demographics, university educated (46%) and those who intended to vote for the Greens (62%) and for minor parties or independents (57%)

Also, 46% of those who had no religion believed Australia was on the wrong track.

At the same time, the poll found that only 10% of Coalition voters were of an opinion that the country was less divided since the last election.

According to Miriam Silva, a board member of the Crescent Institute, the results of the survey were showed a primary task for the incoming government would be to integrate the country more cohesively.

“While these divisions have been exacerbated by COVID and lockdowns, it is disappointing that work to integrate communities at grass roots level is not being harnessed to better integrate our societies,” she said.

“Although the survey results show that Australians believe that our society is more divided than ever before, there is a need for leadership to bring Australians together. The incoming government will have a strong leadership role to play to ensure that communities perceive they are treated equally and to bind the country together.”

The survey was conducted online from 11 to 17 May and was based on 1,599 respondents.