Despite our differences, voters aren't poles apart

"No matter who wins," the MP told me, "the day after the election there'll still be a government. We should never lose sight of that."

Sensible words from someone whose political views I did not always share. I say "always" because sometimes his positions on particular issues did resonate with my own. And sometimes his stances put him at odds with his own party.

Whatever our differences, we could have a conversation without coming to blows. A conversation that routinely ended with good-natured laughter.

New research from the Australian National University shows that most Australians are the same. Despite all the domestic and international uncertainty, the ANU's 2025 Election Monitoring Survey Series shows we're not particularly polarised, nor are we deeply engaged in politics. If anything, we're a little ambivalent. That's why, for many, this election campaign, is one big yawn.

In a study of 17 countries, Australia was the only one that revealed a consistent negative result when it came to polarisation among people who identify with particular parties. The corrosive ideological schism that pits American against American, red against blue, is by and large absent in Australia. And that's a good thing. It means our democracy is working and that despite our political differences, we're unlikely to hate each other for the way we vote.

Your neighbour might vote red, you might vote blue or green, but that won't stop you from having a pleasant chat over the fence. We should keep it that way. The revelation about an alleged plot by a teenager against Peter Dutton is alarming. It's not the way politics is done in this country.

We're reluctant to get behind parties hawking extremist policies, whether from the right or the left, even if we are frustrated with the major parties.

The Coalition is learning the hard way that sticking to the centre pays more dividends than drifting to the right. Its early, ill-judged embrace of policies like slashing the public service, which Labor has exploited, labelling them Trumpian and DOGEy, appears to have cost dearly. Even after the dramatic U-turn softening the proposed cuts and dumping its proposed clampdown on working from home, it's still struggling.

The latest YouGov poll shows Labor's two-part preferred support climbing to 52.5 per cent and the Coalition's slipping to 47.5 per cent. The Coalition's primary vote has slumped to 33.5 per cent, a level that could see it lose seats if its standing doesn't improve. Anthony Albanese's personal rating as preferred PM has risen to 48 per cent while Peter Dutton's sits at 37 per cent.

Primary support for the minor parties is also telling. The Greens primary vote sits at 13 per cent, the community independents or Teals at 9 per cent, One Nation at 8.5 per cent, others at 3 per cent. And lucky last, further demonstrating voter disdain for anything too far to the Trumpian right, is Clive Palmer's Trumpet of Patriots at 1 per cent.

With an electorate that tends to favour the sensible centre, our democracy is, for now, at least, in safe hands.

That means that just as the MP told me all those years ago, no matter who wins on election day, there will be government the day after and we will continue to get along.

COMING UP: I'll be stepping out of the burrow for a couple of weeks of leave. Garry Linnell, Jenna Price and Saffron Howden will look after things in my absence and I'll be back for the final week of the campaign.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Will extremist politics ever take hold in Australia? Do you feel any serious animosity to people who vote differently to you? Do you think our form of democracy serves us well? Email us: echidna@theechidna.com.au

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

- Neither tariff-driven cost blowouts nor the influence of controversial billionaire Elon Musk will blow up Australia's nuclear submarine deal, the Prime Minister has vowed.

- A warmer winter is predicted across Australia, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's long-range forecast.

- An elected Coalition government would put the brakes on penalties for car makers in a softening of emissions standards policies.

THEY SAID IT: "Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments." - Alexander Hamilton

YOU SAID IT: Money for big problems is always pledged in the run-up to elections, wrote Garry. The question is: Why wait until the last minute?

"It seems so corrupt going around 'marginal' seats buying votes with big-dollar promises," writes Dave. "Garry Linnell is right - the electorate is tired of such antics, it's boring, it's hypocritical (and often money promised is suddenly matched by the other side anyway). Where's the forward planning for this country, where's the vision? Where do we as a country want to be in a few decades? If a party actually truly addressed such issues, I'd be listening. All too often, it seems would-be and current politicians seem out of touch with everyday Australians, and this gap increasingly makes people feel the major parties are not representative of them at all."

Ian writes: "There are two problems with introducing new policies during the term of government and before an election, no matter how urgent. The first is that people will ask why didn't you say you were going to do this in the last election? The second is that the policy may not work, turn into a fiasco and result in the loss of the next election. I think it is reasonable for the incumbent government to stick to its election commitments and then present its next round of initiatives at the next election, even though it is a bit boring. The opposition should be the party that presents a new vision at the election, but so far we only have the nuclear power pipe dream and a promise to wind back the work of the Labor government. Not very inspiring."

"Garry," writes Bill, "put your hand up, you, and the greater media, are part of the problem you describe. A government announcing a youth mental health initiative mid-term would attract bugger all interest, apart from those who seek care or deliver the care. Not on the front page of The Oz or Tele - only if a footballer has mental health issues. Patrick McGorry makes yet another funding request - ho hum. No bang for buck for pollies there, and I believe you have been in newspaper management, so you know. Mental health news, except for Bondi Junction, does not sell papers or feed TV news ratings. The ABC might run it though, in the interests of balance. Most voters switch off between elections, only paying attention if it involves their hip pocket. Most voters would greet such an announcement mid-term with the comment: 'Well, that's what we elected them for. Move on, nothing to see here.' No kudos."

Aidan writes: "Nothing in the election campaign has changed my vote, but that is because all the issues have been extensively canvassed beforehand. You do write amusing stuff about elections and politicians, but your wit should be tempered by the fact that, unlike your friend Mark Twain, who was American, we have the great fortune of living in the world's best and fairest democracy with elections, which are genuinely free and fair. Most politicians, when you talk to them, are decent people trying to improve the lot of their constituents. You question the sudden 'urgency' about some important issues as if to imply that the government has failed to take action until the election. Perhaps you should read the article by Frank Algra-Maschio, David Campbell and Lisa Waller published in The Conversation and reprinted on the Newcastle Herald webpage. They calculate that, on average, democratic governments deliver 60 per cent of their promises, and the current government has delivered 70 per cent. That's not bad. How about you give the studied cynicism a rest?"

"Major parties have had decades to improve our health system and community," writes Jennifer. "Instead they've forced deterioration through neglect. If governments cared to look after their people, they'd act promptly on problems with poverty and mental and dental health to prevent the physical health problems that otherwise follow. We've known for hundreds of years that poverty leads to crime and violence from frustration of needs, yet there's no action until crime occurs and people demand action. We could prevent many social problems, costs of incarceration and increased policing by addressing poverty and health first. The focus on simplistic, short-term, transactional crisis management divides people instead of building an inclusive community where people help each other."

Marilyn, a volunteer for independent Alex Dyson's campaign in Wannon, writes: "The 'majors' are now receding into irrelevance for those of us lucky enough to have a sound independent standing in our electorates. Wannon, for example, has been held safely by the Liberals for decades, and as a result, its needs have largely been ignored by being taken for granted. So hurrah! This time around we're in with a real chance as Alex Dyson is gaining the ascendancy because young and old, our community wants and needs its representative to speak for us rather than the major party policies."

"How would anyone address Trump's tariffs when even he has no idea what will happen?" asks Mick from Canberra. "The climate crisis is now acknowledged by most, and all parties have long-established approaches to its mitigation. The AI revolution isn't impending, it's already here, and not unlike Trump's agendas, it is heading in multiple directions simultaneously. AI's creators, developers and end users can't agree on its pros, cons and applications. Hearing politicians debate the unknown unknowns won't make for a meaningful or exciting election campaign."

Paddy from Glen Innes writes: "I read with interest your piece about politicians holding off announcements until elections. It is both bad management and poor leadership. However, we seem to suffer from political amnesia from the moment an election is over to when the next one is called. We've forgotten about robodebt, Scott Morrison the Minister for Everything, inflation with a six in front of it, commuter car parks that were never built and whiteboards for pork barrelling, I mean grant allocation. Our amnesia is assisted by media who cherry pick what they report on depending on their views. The incumbent government has achieved a lot of amazing things in the last three years, yet sadly, most of it is underreported or not reported at all."

"Those pollies who hold out for elections to promise things raise my ire," writes Lee. "We are a National seat and very safe. As soon as they were the opposition, our local members started criticising the government for what they were not doing for the people of 'his electorate'. He had been in power and held a very high seat at the table and didn't do anything about his concerns so why would Albo's team."