Teenagers in Victoria, like 17-year-old Riley Williams, are preparing to vote for the first time next year. Williams expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I think I've got some research to do before I commit to anything or any parties, but it should be exciting." However, a recent study indicates a decline in trust toward national institutions, particularly among young people and those living in regional areas.

The McKinnon Index, released today, reveals that Australians outside major cities exhibit less confidence in democracy compared to their urban counterparts. The study categorizes respondents into three groups: major cities, inner regional, and a combined category for outer regional and remote areas. Findings show that 66.4% of individuals in major cities believe election outcomes are fair, while this figure drops to 62.7% in inner regional areas and further declines to 52.7% in outer regional and remote regions.

Jade Wood, a student from Tallangatta, noted that many of her peers lack interest in politics, making the voting process seem daunting. "A lot of my friends don't take an interest in it, so it's probably a bit daunting when it does come to voting because they don't really know how it works," she said.

The index also highlights a significant dissatisfaction with electoral commissions, with 21.6% of residents in outer regional areas expressing discontent, compared to 13.5% in major cities. Additionally, 65.3% of outer regional residents feel that federal politicians do not understand or represent their interests, surpassing the national average of 56.4% and the metropolitan average of 54.5%.

The report indicates that young men in rural and remote areas have the lowest confidence in elections, while young women in regional areas often do not fully understand how democracy functions. The McKinnon organization plans to release this index annually to monitor changes in trust and satisfaction with democratic processes.

The research links the declining trust in democracy in regional areas to frustrations over government service delivery and a decrease in local media outlets. Jay Weatherill, executive director of McKinnon, stated, "The less people that consume news, and that's certainly what's happening in the regions, the lower their confidence in democracy." He emphasized the need for Australia to protect its democratic institutions, noting, "There is reason to be proud, but there are also causes for concern."

Supporting the McKinnon findings, research from the Australian National University indicates a long-term decline in trust in democratic institutions. Professor Nicholas Biddle, head of the university's school of politics, warned that this trend has been ongoing for years. "There's been a long-term decline in confidence in institutions, satisfaction with democracy across many established high-income democracies across the world," he said.

Biddle pointed out that lower education levels and fewer opportunities in regional areas may contribute to this lack of confidence. He also noted that the current political landscape, with Labor in government, may affect trust levels among residents in opposition-held regions.

He urged Australia to remain vigilant and proactive in maintaining its democratic values, stating, "If we want that to remain, then we need to continue to reinvest, continue to innovate and really identify what are the real policy challenges, what are the real issues that people are identifying in their lives and have a targeted focus on those."