A new research report has published what many of the general public, and most likely politicians, already suspected; Australian voters are disengaged, disillusioned and distrustful.

The University of Melbourne report found a clear majority, or 58 per cent, of respondents thought that political leadership was now ‘noticeable worse’ than usual.

Whole 57 per cent of respondents were disappointed in the tone of the political debate, 70 per cent say they have little or no confidence in the Federal Government.

Lead author of the report and Director of the University’s Centre for Advancing Journalism, Dr Margaret Simons, said that the findings were alarming.

“These findings show how badly we need to re-engage voters and improve media coverage of politics," Dr Simons said.

The random telephone survey of 1000 voters, conducted between mid-March and mid-April 2013, also found:

  • Interest in the 2013 federal election campaign is also lower than people’s usual level of interest in politics. While 43% of voters say they usually take a 'good deal of interest' in politics, only 36 per cent say they are taking a 'good deal of interest' in the 2013 election.
  • Conversely, the proportion of voters who take little or no interest in politics — 23% usually — has risen substantially to 36 per cent.
  • Trust in the media was also abysmal; 73% of respondents say they have little or no confidence in the press, and 71% say the same of television.