“For most people, that is their relationship with their partner,” says national executive officer, Nick Tebbey.<\/p>\n
“Almost a quarter of Australians are saying that different values and beliefs are actually something that are challenging us in our relationships.<\/p>\n
“So, we know this is actually a phenomenon that is happening and that is on the rise.”<\/p>\n
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Australians today are more likely to have partners who don’t share their political views than 25 years ago. (ABC: Lindsay Dunbar)<\/p>\n
Intifar Chowdhury, a lecturer in government at Flinders University in South Australia, says Australians today are more likely to have partners who don’t share their political views<\/a> than 25 years ago.<\/p>\n She says about half of Australian couples were “politically mismatched” during the 2022 federal election.<\/p>\n “Younger people make up the largest share of politically unmatched relationships, roughly 66 per cent of those aged 18 to 30,” Dr Chowdhury says.<\/p>\n Are opposing political views a deal breaker?<\/p>\n Just because you have different political beliefs does not mean you have to call it quits on the relationship, according to Nick Tebbey.<\/p>\n “I think it means that you’ve got interesting dinner table conversations ahead of you and an opportunity to learn from each other, not that you are so diametrically opposed that you can’t coexist,” he says.<\/p>\n Mr Tebbey says historically, their research<\/a> indicates about 5 per cent of relationships experience a relationship breakdown due to political differences.<\/p>\n Luara Ferracioli, an associate professor of political philosophy at the University of Sydney, says it would be surprising if both people in an intimate relationship agreed about everything.<\/p>\n “People are going to disagree deeply about all sorts of issues, moral issues, religious issues, but the political disagreement is just one more layer,” she says.<\/p>\n “Disagreement can create growth opportunities, for challenging oneself, for strengthening one’s views when presented with a challenge.”<\/p>\n Experts say people in an intimate relationship are unlikely to agree about everything. (ABC: Lindsay Dunbar)<\/p>\n Signs politics is impacting a relationship<\/p>\n Our experts say there are two main signs that political differences are beginning to impact your romantic relationship.<\/p>\n “[Firstly], if it is taking a toll on you and your satisfaction, your happiness, your general wellbeing,” Mr Tebbey says.<\/p>\n “The first person you might have that conversation with is the partner.<\/p>\n “You can say, ‘look, this is really affecting me’ and ‘can we talk about it and try and work out if there’s a way around it?’.”More on relationships<\/p>\n Secondly, he says if the relationship is experiencing “conflict, a breakdown in communication or a breakdown in respect” it might be time to reach out to a professional, like a relationship counsellor.<\/p>\n “[They] can help unpack that and help either rebuild that respect or that communication in a way that avoids the conflict or, if it’s necessary, help that relationship reach its natural conclusion,” Mr Tebbey says.<\/p>\n Here’s how to navigate tensions<\/p>\n Dr Ferracioli recommends couples try not to take differing views personally.<\/p>\n “It’s very important to remember that they’re not doing that to upset you or frustrate you,” she says.<\/p>\n “It’s the conclusion they’ve come to, given the things they care about and how they see the world.<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/30cf16fed2f74dcfa0465b5d257af994.jpeg\")
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