The People vs The Government

No — 60.06% of Australians voted against the Voice in a national referendum. Every single state voted No. Only the ACT voted Yes.

Despite the national No vote, South Australia proceeded with its own state Voice, holding elections in March 2024. Victoria's First Peoples' Assembly continued advancing treaty. City of Sydney Council resolved to keep implementing Voice, Treaty and Truth — without another public vote.

71% of Australians supported a temporary pause on migration until infrastructure caught up (IPA/Essential/Resolve polling 2023–25). 59–79% said current levels were too high across multiple independent polls.

Net migration hit a record 536,000 in 2022–23 — the highest in Australian history. The government called it "unsustainable" only after the damage was done. Levels only began falling in 2024–25 under pressure.

48% wanted them scrapped (Australia Institute, Oct 2022). Only 22% wanted to keep them as originally legislated. The cuts disproportionately benefited earners over $120K — about 4% of Australians.

Both Labor and Liberal promised to keep the cuts at the 2022 election. Labor later modified them in January 2024 — but only after breaking an explicit promise. The $254 billion, decade-long cuts still proceeded despite majority opposition to the original design.

60% of voters supported capping immigration until sufficient affordable housing was built (Essential Poll, May 2023). Broad public support for significant social housing investment and rent caps consistently shown in polling.

Federal government spent just $9.2B on housing while migration added 536,000 people in one year. The 1.2 million homes target announced but completions running at 173,000/year — well short. Rents rose 47% since 2020. No rent caps introduced federally.

Polling consistently showed strong public support for maintaining or expanding NDIS access. The scheme was created following overwhelming community demand after the 2011 Productivity Commission inquiry found systemic failure of disability support.

The Albanese government tightened NDIS eligibility in 2023–24 and introduced a $14.4B savings target. Thousands of participants had plans cut or access removed. The government framed this as "sustainability" — critics called it cost-cutting on the vulnerable.

Strong consistent public support for renewable energy transition. Majority of Australians support accelerating the shift away from coal and gas, particularly after 2019–20 bushfire season.

Government set 82% renewables target by 2030 and passed the Climate Change Act 2022 enshrining a 43% emissions reduction target. Broadly aligned with public sentiment — a rare example of government acting with the community.

Public opinion on tobacco tax is divided — many support keeping it as a health deterrent. However, working-class Australians who smoke at higher rates bear a disproportionate burden. A single pack costs $50+. Many call this a regressive tax targeting the poor.

Australia has the world's highest tobacco taxes, raised repeatedly without public consultation. The tax raises ~$15B/year. The Albanese government continued raising excise annually. Low-income smokers — the majority — were never asked.

Australians have never voted on weakening FOI laws. No referendum. No election promise. No mandate.

FOI requests granted in full: 59% in 2011–12 collapsed to 21% in 2023–24. Refusals doubled. Average wait for an appeal: 15.5 months (was 6 months in 2016). In 2025 the government tried to make it worse — banning anonymous requests, adding fees, expanding secrecy exemptions. Condemned by every anti-corruption and media freedom body in Australia. Only withdrawn in March 2026 when the Senate was about to vote it down.