Public opinion and policy responsiveness: the case of same-sex marriage in Australia |
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Authors: | Andrea Carson Shaun Ratcliff Yannick Dufresne |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australiacarsona@unimelb.edu.auhttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-5503-3334;2. United States Study Centre, University of Sydney, Institute Building (H03), Sydney, NSW, Australiahttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5186-3311;3. Département de science politique, Pavillon Charles-De Koninck, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | Public opinion policy congruence same-sex marriage Australian politics representation |
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