Trust in Australia's federal politicians has fallen to 30.5 per cent, down from 35.9 per cent a year ago, according to the 2026 McKinnon Index, with fewer than half of voters believing they have a meaningful say in government and almost three-quarters saying the country has become more divided over the past year.
The McKinnon Index, an independent non-partisan assessment of Australia's democratic health conducted by Roy Morgan through interviews with 4273 Australians between June and July, also found a striking divide between university graduates and those whose education ended at high school across several measures of democratic confidence and participation.
Trust in state and territory politicians dropped six percentage points to 32.7 per cent, while trust in the federal government slipped from 37.6 per cent to 33.1 per cent. Fewer than one in four Australians expressed high trust in political parties.
Confidence that Australians can freely express political opinions fell from 67.9 per cent to 58.1 per cent, and fewer than half believe the political system allows people like them to have a say. Overall satisfaction with democracy declined from 54.5 per cent to 50.7 per cent, though more than three-quarters still believe democracy is preferable to any other system.
The education divide was stark. Just 39.7 per cent of Australians whose education ended at high school are satisfied with democracy, compared with 59 per cent of university graduates. Almost three-quarters of graduates were confident in election outcomes, compared with fewer than half of those with a high school education or below. More than 80 per cent of graduates said they understood how Australian democracy works, compared with fewer than two-thirds of those whose education ended at high school.
Political divisions are spilling into personal relationships. More than one in five young Australians aged 18 to 24 said they would rule out friendships with people who hold different political views: 21.8 per cent of men and 21.2 per cent of women. Among Australians over 65, 4.5 per cent of men and 6.3 per cent of women expressed the same sentiment.
The survey also revealed a troubling willingness among young people to countenance political violence. More than one in four men aged 18 to 24 (27.5 per cent) agreed that extreme measures such as violence could sometimes be justified to advance a cause they cared about, compared with 16.9 per cent of women the same age and 10.1 per cent of Australians overall.
McKinnon interim executive chairman John Thwaites, a former Victorian deputy premier, said the findings showed growing disconnection between Australians and their elected representatives. "People need to know their voice matters," Thwaites said. "They also need to see leaders acting with integrity, keeping their promises and delivering outcomes that make a difference to their lives. Both matter if we want to rebuild trust."
Broken promises were cited by 25 per cent of respondents, dishonesty by 22.1 per cent, politicians being out of touch by 19 per cent, self-interest by 15.5 per cent and the cost of living by 5.8 per cent.
The deterioration in political confidence coincided with growing concern about the quality of national debate.
Yet the research also pointed to a distinction between distrust of leaders and continuing confidence in democratic institutions. Trust in the Australian Electoral Commission increased to 72.9 per cent, while confidence in the public service, courts, independent regulators and anti-corruption commissions remained stable or improved.
The findings come amid debates over immigration, antisemitism and social cohesion following the December 2025 Bondi massacre, and heightened concern about political hostility following this month's alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta electorate office.
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Trust in Australian political institutions, 2026
%
Percentage of Australians who express trust in each institution. Source: McKinnon Index via Roy Morgan, reported by The Age
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Analysis
Why This Matters
The steep decline in trust and rising perception of division could further destabilise Australia's political landscape, making it harder for governments to implement policy and respond to challenges.
The deepening education divide raises questions about whether political institutions are equally accessible to all Australians, potentially entrenching inequality in political participation and confidence.
The willingness of more than one in four young men to countenance political violence is a significant warning sign for social cohesion and public safety, particularly following recent high-profile attacks.
Background
The 2026 McKinnon Index is the latest in a series of surveys tracking Australia's democratic health. The poll was conducted between June and July 2026, a period of heightened political turmoil. The December 2025 Bondi massacre sparked fierce debates over immigration, antisemitism and social cohesion. Earlier in October 2026, independent MP Helen Haines was allegedly attacked outside her electorate office. The major parties have been struggling to retain voters, with Pauline Hanson's One Nation surging in national opinion polls.
What to Watch
Whether the major parties adjust their messaging or policy platforms to address the drivers of distrust, particularly broken promises and perceived dishonesty.
Further evidence of political intolerance and acceptance of violence among younger Australians, and whether this translates into real-world incidents.
Whether trust in democratic institutions such as the AEC continues to improve even as trust in politicians and government remains low, and how that gap shapes political behaviour.
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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SupportedTrust in federal politicians fell from 35.9 per cent to 30.5 per cent in a year.The Age - Latest News: “trust in federal politicians has fallen from 35.9 per cent to just 30.5 per cent in a year”
Partly supportedThe education divide is deepening.The Age - Latest News: “a striking divide between university graduates and those whose education ended at high school”
SupportedFewer than half of voters believe they have a meaningful say in government.The Age - Latest News: “fewer than half of voters believe they have a meaningful say in government”
SupportedAlmost three-quarters believe the country has become more divided over the past year.The Age - Latest News: “74.4 per cent believe the country has become more divided over the past year”
SupportedThe research interviewed 4,273 Australians, with Roy Morgan conducting the interviews between June and July.The Age - Latest News: “The research, based on interviews with 4273 Australians conducted by Roy Morgan between June 19 and July 21”
SupportedMore than one in five Australians aged 18 to 24 said they would rule out friendships with people whose political views differed, with the story giving figures of 21.8 per cent for men and 21.2 per cent for women.The Age - Latest News: “It found 21.8 per cent of men aged 18 to 24 and 21.2 per cent of women in the same age group agreed they could not be friends with someone whose political opinions differed from their own.”
SupportedThwaites said, “People need to know their voice matters.”The Age - Latest News: ““People need to know their voice matters,” Thwaites said.”
SupportedThwaites said leaders need to act with integrity, keep promises and deliver outcomes that make a difference to people’s lives, adding, “Both matter if we want to rebuild trust.”The Age - Latest News: ““They also need to see leaders acting with integrity, keeping their promises and delivering outcomes that make a difference to their lives. Both matter if we want to rebuild trust.””
SupportedAustralians whose education ended at high school were less satisfied with democracy than university graduates: 39.7 per cent compared with 59 per cent.The Age - Latest News: “Just 39.7 per cent of Australians whose education ended at high school are satisfied with democracy, compared with 59 per cent of university graduates.”
SupportedMore than one in four men aged 18 to 24 agreed violence could sometimes be justified to advance a cause they cared about (27.5 per cent), compared with 16.9 per cent of women the same age and 10.1 per cent overall.The Age - Latest News: “More than one in four men aged 18 to 24 — 27.5 per cent — agreed that extreme measures such as violence could sometimes be justified to advance a cause they cared about, compared with 16.9 per cent of women the same age and 10.1 per cent of Australians overall.”
SupportedTrust in the Australian Electoral Commission increased to 72.9 per cent.The Age - Latest News: “Trust in the Australian Electoral Commission has increased to 72.9 per cent”
SupportedThe findings came amid heightened concern about political hostility following this month’s alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta electorate office.The Age - Latest News: “comes amid heightened concern about political hostility following the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta electorate office this month.”