Power-Sharing Parliaments Gain Majority Support Among Australian Voters, New Poll Reveals
In a significant shift that could reshape Australia's political landscape, a clear majority of voters now support power-sharing arrangements in parliament, according to comprehensive new polling from The Australia Institute. The research reveals that more than twice as many Australians support a power-sharing arrangement in the next term of parliament as oppose one (41.7% versus 19.7%), challenging traditional narratives about the effectiveness of majority governments.
The Evolving Australian Political Landscape
The polling data, collected between April 24-29, 2025, from a nationally representative sample of 1,500 voters, reveals that Australians increasingly view collaborative governance as a viable—and perhaps preferable—alternative to single-party rule. This shift comes as Australia's two-party dominance continues to erode, with neither major party securing a majority of the popular vote since the 1970s.
"The Australia Institute's polling research shows that voters aren't buying dark talk of 'coalitions of chaos' or 'hung parliaments'," explains Bill Browne, Democracy & Accountability Program Director at The Australia Institute. "Most states and territories have experienced power-sharing parliaments in the last 20 years, so Australians have real-world experience that these parliaments can be popular and effective."
This evolving perspective crosses most political affiliations, with strong support for power-sharing arrangements among Labor voters (47.5% support, 11.8% oppose), Greens voters (62.2% support, 5.0% oppose), Independent voters (47.9% support, 10.4% oppose), and Other voters (48.2% support, 14.0% oppose). Only Coalition (29.6% support, 34.7% oppose) and One Nation voters (28.4% support, 31.4% oppose) displayed more opposition than support for power-sharing arrangements.
Policy Over Party: The Independent Voter Perspective
Perhaps most revealing is how Independent and minor party voters view the role of crossbench MPs. The polling shows that 47.8% of Independent voters and 49.8% of Other voters believe crossbench MPs should support whichever party can negotiate the best policy outcomes for Australia—not automatically back either major party.
This contrasts sharply with party loyalists: 60.6% of Labor voters believe crossbench MPs should support the Labor Party to form government, while 65.4% of Coalition voters believe they should support the Coalition.
Overall, 27.0% of Australians think crossbench MPs should support whichever party they believe can negotiate the best policy outcomes for Australia, with an additional 7.2% preferring support for the party offering the best outcomes for specific electorates.
The Senate's Role: Scrutiny Over Rubber Stamps
An overwhelming 70% of Australians believe the Senate should review and scrutinize every government policy on its merits, rather than automatically supporting every policy a government took to the election. Just 12.2% believe the Senate should rubber-stamp the government's election platform.
This strong preference for policy-by-policy assessment reflects a sophisticated understanding of the Senate's role in Australia's parliamentary system and suggests voters want substantive debate rather than partisan loyalty from their elected representatives.
Success Stories from Power-Sharing Parliaments
The Australia Institute's research highlights numerous policy achievements delivered under power-sharing arrangements across Australia:
"It is under power-sharing parliaments that the ACT adopted truth in political advertising laws, whistleblower protections were achieved in NSW, the Royalties for Regions package distributed mining and petroleum royalties to WA regional communities, the ACT achieved 100% renewable energy and Tasmania passed one of the most progressive freedom of information acts in the country," the report notes.
At the federal level, the 2010–2013 Gillard minority government stands as a testament to the potential effectiveness of power-sharing arrangements. Despite being frequently characterized as chaotic, this parliament "passed legislation at a higher rate than any other, including ambitious legislation like the NDIS, Clean Energy Future Package, cigarette plain packaging and expanding Medicare to dental for children."
The Myth of Electoral Impact
Contrary to conventional political wisdom, 72.0% of Australians reported that talk of a possible "hung parliament" or "minority government" did not influence how they voted or intended to vote. Only 13.7% said these discussions affected their voting decisions.
This finding challenges the effectiveness of scare campaigns that frame power-sharing as inherently unstable or undesirable, suggesting that voters may be more sophisticated in their assessment of governance models than political strategists often assume.
Looking Forward: Implications for Australia's Democracy
As Australia approaches future electoral cycles, these findings suggest the political landscape may continue evolving toward more collaborative governance models. With no major party securing a majority of the popular vote in decades, parliaments where power is shared among multiple parties and independents may become the new normal rather than the exception.
"Over the past four decades, Australians have voted for minor parties and independents in greater numbers," notes Browne. "A parliament where no one party has a majority of seats is a natural consequence of the declining major party vote."
For political strategists focused primarily on the two-party horse race, this evolution presents both challenges and opportunities. "Political commentators and strategists who focus on the two-party 'horse race,' neglecting the growing minor party and independent vote, will increasingly be caught out by seat upsets," the report warns.
The Question for Voters
As Australia's political system continues to evolve, a fundamental question emerges for voters: Does a more collaborative, policy-focused parliament better serve modern democratic needs than traditional majority governments dominated by a single party?
The data suggests an increasing number of Australians believe it does.
About the Poll: YouGov conducted this national survey of 1,500 voters on behalf of The Australia Institute between April 24 and 29, 2025, using an online polling methodology. The margin of error on the effective sample size is 3.27%. The poll complies with the Australian Polling Council's requirements.
What's your view? Do you believe power-sharing parliaments deliver better outcomes for citizens than majority governments? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
For more information: Visit The Australia Institute for the complete polling data and analysis.
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