The figures from the Australian Electoral Office found most of these people were young, and, according to a survey of their attitudes, were alienated from the political system's ability to meet their needs.

Many, particularly the unemployed, regarded enrolling as an invasion of privacy, and feared that the effect of enrollment could expose them to consumer-credit blacklists or expose them to junk mail.

The study prompted a major enrollment and information campaign by the electoral office, expected to cost $3 million over three months. It also showed that about one in 20 eligible Australians were not enrolled.

The ACT had 2 per cent more people enrolled than was indicated by census figures - explained by the fact that many eligible people on the rolls, such as diplomats, were not actually residing in the territory at the time.

The single most important reason why young people failed to enrol, according to the survey, was that they saw no direct link between the government and its institutions and their own lives. This was most marked among young unemployed.

"The unemployed stand out from all the other groups in their attitudes because of the enormous feeling of rejection and the complete demoralisation of their self-esteem," the report said.

"Without exception, they feel that society, the system, has rejected them. They see themselves as outsiders, dividing the world very clearly between the employed and the unemployed."

See https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/116408834/12863715