EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, federal politics, Greens, Interest in Federal Politics, Interest in Politics, Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Politics, Polling, polls
Q. When it comes to following Federal politics, which best describes you?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ | |
I follow it closely | 10% | 12% | 13% | 8% | 7% | 10% | 17% |
I follow it enough to know what’s happening | 45% | 46% | 49% | 45% | 30% | 49% | 57% |
I follow it when something big is happening | 18% | 19% | 20% | 24% | 27% | 14% | 15% |
I only pay attention when there’s an election | 8% | 7% | 9% | 6% | 13% | 8% | 3% |
I have no interest in politics | 14% | 14% | 8% | 15% | 17% | 16% | 6% |
Can’t say | 4% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 6% | 4% | 2% |
55% say they follow Federal politics closely or enough to know what’s happening, 26% follow it only at elections or when something big is happening and 14% have no interest in politics.
Older respondents tended to follow Federal politics more closely than younger respondents – 74% of those aged 55+ follow it closely or enough to know what’s happening compared to only 37% of those aged 18-34. Greens voters (53%) were a little less likely to follow politics than Labor (58%) or Liberal/National voters (62%).
EMC, ER, Essential Media, Essential Report, federal politics, Greens, Interest in Federal Politics, Interest in Politics, Labor, Liberals, Nationals, Polling, polls
Q. Over the last few years has your interest in following Federal politics increased or decreased?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ | |
Total increased | 29% | 30% | 35% | 32% | 37% | 26% | 25% |
Total decreased | 11% | 11% | 6% | 15% | 11% | 12% | 11% |
Increased a lot | 8% | 10% | 10% | 7% | 11% | 7% | 8% |
Increased a little | 21% | 20% | 25% | 25% | 26% | 19% | 17% |
Stayed much the same | 56% | 56% | 59% | 54% | 47% | 60% | 62% |
Decreased a little | 6% | 7% | 4% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 8% |
Decreased a lot | 5% | 4% | 2% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 3% |
Can’t say | 4% | 3% | * | – | 7% | 3% | 1% |
56% say their interest in following Federal politics has stayed much the same, 29% have more interest and 11% less interest.
Respondents aged 18-34 were more likely to have more interest in following Federal politics (37%) while older voters’ interest was more likely to have stayed much the same.