Australians’ interest in Indigenous issues at lowest level since 2021, Ipsos study shows

Australians have become less supportive of Closing The Gap initiatives, with an overall decline in interest in Indigenous issues, a new study shows.

Australia’s interest in First Nations issues has declined to its lowest level since 2021, with many showing decreased support for the Closing The Gap initiatives, a leading think tank has revealed.

The study by market research firm Ipsos was conducted via their online research panel in late April, with 1,000 people representing the adult Australian population.

Results found there was a downward trend in perceived importance of Treaty and Voice to Parliament as a way forward for reconciliation.

Ipsos public affairs director, Nonie Finlayson said “Australians knowledge and attitudes” towards First Nations’ peoples “appeared” to have stalled since the outcome of the 2023 Voice to parliament referendum.

Mixed reviews on government role: Opinions vary on the government’s role in acting for First Nations people. 1 in 3 Australians think the Government should be doing more for Indigenous people (31%) – and this is higher for young people and those living in metro areas. However, 2 in 5 Australians think the Government is doing the right amount (42%).

“Many people are feeling significant fatigue post the divisive Voice to Parliament campaign and are also feeling deflated after the vote’s rejection,” she said.

“The Indigenous Issues report comes amid a time of turbulence in Australian Indigenous affairs.

“The debate surrounding the Voice appears to have caused long-term damage to interest in and support for Indigenous issues, particularly around consensus on important closing-the-gap initiatives.

“I think it’s clear that more needs to be done to eliminate racism and determine what level of government action is appropriate to support Indigenous issues.”

Since the start of 2024, a majority (70 per cent) of non-Indigenous Australians say they have heard racial slurs or jokes in public, or on social media (69 per cent), which are similar figures to 2023.

Interest in Indigenous issues has declined: just 16% of Australians said they were “very interested” in Indigenous issues, compared to 22% in 2023 and 19% in 2021. Decreasing interest was noted among women (49% in 2024, compared to 55% in 2023) and regional Australians (44%, compared to 57% in 2023).

Reconciliation South Australia CEO Jason Downs told The Advertiser that his organisation’s “indicators” showed more younger Australians were engaging with First Nations people.

He said there were also many people who voted ‘no’ at the referendum in October that were coming to Reconciliation SA out of “curiosity” about Indigenous issues.

“I would say we’re engaging more people that are curious to understand why people voted ‘no’,” he said.

“And we’re getting people who did vote no, ask us for more information about reconciliation and the issues.

“So for us, that ‘Now More Than Ever’ tag, is a call to arms on how to learn more about the issues, so I would say the whole notion of divisiveness is not what we’re getting, because we’re getting the curiosity.”

Mr Downs said the reconciliation movement in Australia was a “people movement” and not a “political” one, and encouraged more non-Indigenous Australians to engage with First Nations people and organisations.

“We have seen in the last 6-months, an increase in our membership, an increase in subscriptions to our newsletter

Despite the figures, support for Indigenous issues by young Australians was at 59 per cent, while 64 per cent said they were confident in their knowledge of local Country.

Younger Australians were also more likely to support reconciliation activities and show more cultural sensitivity.

Originally published as Australians’ interest in Indigenous issues at lowest level since 2021, Ipsos study shows