Public opinion and policy responsiveness

The case of same-sex marriage in Australia

Bibliographic Data

ID6234297
AuthorsAndrea Carson (0000-0001-5503-3334, The University of Melbourne, corresponding author), Shaun Ratcliff (0000-0002-5186-3311, United States Study Centre, University of Sydney, Institute Building (H03), Sydney, NSW, Australia), Yannick Dufresne (0000-0002-6211-2193, Université Laval)
Year2018
Volume53
Issue1
Pages3-23
Publication date2018-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAustralian Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1036-1146 • E-ISSN: 1363-030X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10361146.2017.1381944
OpenAlexW2764313266
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited30

This article examines congruence between public opinion and politicians’ positions on same-sex marriage in the Australian House of Representatives from 2012 to 2016. In contrast median voter theorem and other office-motivated frameworks, Australian federal politicians have largely ignored majority opinion, which has been supportive of same-sex marriage for a decade. Using a unique dataset (n = 601,550) of voter preferences collected during the 2013 federal election, and collated Hansard and media data, we compare public opinion on same-sex marriage with politicians’ public positions. We find a status quo bias, suggesting the influence of special interest groups in this policy area. Yet, we also find parliamentarians are responsive to public opinion once it reaches a critical level, and that very low opposition to same-sex marriage in an electorate predicts policy support from its MP, which varies by party and over time

Opposition (politics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Public opinion · Sociology · Status quo · Voter turnout · Voting · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Gender Politics and Representation · Law · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Public Administration

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