By Ben McKay

The depth of Australians’ dismay at the state of our democracy is laid bare in new polling, but it also offers a roadmap to how trust in politics might be won back.

The headline finding in the polling, released by the Australian Democracy Network on Wednesday, is 62 per cent do not believe the political system works for ordinary people.

A similar number, 61 per cent, believe Anthony Albanese’s government is “more focused on powerful interests than ordinary Australians”.

The polling is the latest piece of evidence showing widespread discontent in the political environment.

That trend is illustrated most starkly by the rise of right-wing populists One Nation to be the nation’s most favoured political party.

The research asks Australians whether they would back a selection of integrity measures – truth in political advertising laws, campaign spending and donation caps, and lobbying reforms – which are each given resounding support.

“What’s striking about these results is that Australians aren’t turning away from democracy,” ADN chief executive Saffron Zomer said.

“They’re telling us they want a democracy that works better for ordinary people and they’re identifying practical reforms that would help to rebuild trust.”

In other words, Australians don’t want to burn down the house – they want to fix it.

“The support for these reforms extend across political divides in the same way that the concerns about the political system extend across political divides,” senior campaigner Christian Slattery told AAP.

Online pollsters Essential Research asked more than 1000 Australians in May to what extent they supported a series of reforms, generating the strong response.

Seventy per cent wanted laws requiring claims in political advertising to be accurate and truthful, compared to seven per cent opposed.

Campaign spending limits won 66 per cent support, with seven per cent against, and donation caps that stop high-wealth individuals bankrolling campaigns were supported by 64 per cent compared to nine per cent against.

If in play, those rules would benefit grassroots campaigns.

“That points to the desire that people have not to see big money exerting such an outsized influence in politics, whether its corporations or wealthy donors,” Mr Slattery said.

The most popular reform put to voters – truth in political advertising – may be the most contentious.

Critics of the laws say such proposals limit free speech, and the Australian Electoral Commission warns the laws could damage its hard-won reputation for neutrality and integrity if it was forced to play the role of arbiter under a reform.

Independent MP Zali Steggall has introduced a private member’s bill for such laws several times during her time in parliament, but each time the government has stymied the reform.

Mr Slattery says the ADN favours South Australia’s truth in advertising laws, which have been in place for more than 40 years.

To minimise concerns over restrictions over free speech, the laws are limited to authorised electoral advertisements, rather than statements by candidates.

ADN’s polling on truth in political advertising follows a similar survey in 2024 by the Australia Institute, which found 87 per cent support.

The Australia Institute is also backing a ban in NSW ahead of its state election in March 2027.