Political opinion polls are an inescapable part of everyday life. Government or opposition policies rarely see the light of day without some poll evidence to gauge the public’s response to them. Party leaders are constantly evaluated against their poll ratings, not least by their colleagues, and consistently low ratings can often spell a leader’s demise. The most reliable way in which to monitor trends in public opinion is to examine responses over an extended period of time, using questions asked in the same way and included in surveys that use the same methodology. The Australian Election Study has conducted comprehensive post-election surveys of political opinion from 1987 through to 2013, and provides the most sophisticated and exhaustive set of data ever collected in Australia on the dynamics of political behaviour.

Hosted by Professor Ian McAllister of the School of Politics and International Relations, the workshop will include presentations by leading scholars of Australian politics on long-term trends in Australian political behaviour and the 2013 election, using newly available data from the 2013 Australian Election Study. Papers will cover topics including gender and leader effects, trends in voting for minor parties, and the role of class, religion, and age on voting behaviour. This event will also launch the latest edition of 'Trends in Australian Political Opinion', covering trends in Australian politics from 1987 through to 2013.