EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: Australians are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the country's political system.

For years now, polls and focus groups have revealed a consistent disenchantment.

Tonight, Lateline can exclusively reveal the results of the most detailed survey yet on political attitudes. Compiled for the Museum of Australian Democracy, it shows that voters give their elected representatives a resounding fail and they're hungry for political reform, including the right to recall their local MPs from Parliament and make them face another election for their seat.

In a moment we'll hear from a panel including independent federal MP Cathy McGowan, Matthew Gordon, co-founder of Our Say, a digital democracy site, and the head of the St James Ethics Centre, Simon Longstaff.

But first, Margot O'Neill has the details this latest survey.

MARGOT O'NEILL, REPORTER: If Australians had their way, our major political parties would face a revolution. Parties would have to give their MP's a free vote in Parliament rather than follow the party line.

BILL SHORTEN, LABOR MP (2012): I understand that the Prime Minister's addressed this in a press conference in Turkey in the last few hours. I haven't seen what she said, but let me say I support what it is that she said.

MARGOT O'NEILL: Voters also want the right to recall their MP to face another election if, for example, they lied or were corrupt.

There'd also be stricter limits on political donations and advertising, giving new political groups a better chance of competing.

All in all, Australian politics would look and sound radically different.

At least, that's according to the three most popular reforms in a survey done for the Museum of Australian Democracy.

MARK EVANS, INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNANCE: I think momentum is definitely building for reform. We should understand this as a new era in liberal democracy, a new stage in liberal democracy.

MARGOT O'NEILL: But wouldn't reforms like a free vote destroy party discipline and undermine parliamentary stability?

MARK EVANS: Would it? Or would it actually mean that political leaders would have to persuade their party about the course of action that they are taking. Good public policy debate is about having a good row.

MARGOT O'NEILL: If a free vote's not enough to quicken the pulse of professional politicians, what about giving voters the right to recall their MP for a fresh election? Consider this: just eight per cent of those surveyed believe their local MP does a good job.

MARK EVANS: If you have the threat of voter recall, um, politicians will be more responsive to the needs of their constituents. Between 80 and 90 per cent of Australians believe that they have little or no influence over national decision-making.

MARGOT O'NEILL: The survey shows that Australians of all ages still embrace democracy and its freedoms and stability, but ...

MARK EVANS: There's a growing disenchantment with the nature of the political process, um, particularly with the current politics on offer. And they associate that with what they characterise as the untrustworthy contemporary politician.

MARGOT O'NEILL: When asked what they don't like about democracy in Australia, the top three responses are: the media has too much power, politicians get away with broken promises and big business has too much power.

MARK EVANS: So in other words, the view out there is that in order for governments, um, to get their way, they're having to provide concessions time and time again to big business.

MARGOT O'NEILL: It's young people who are leading the way to democratic renewal. Turns out they're not apathetic, they're online.

MARK EVANS: They are more active than any other generation in terms of social media, in terms of collective action through the internet. They are what I would term information activists - they share information. They debate public policy in a degree of detail that leaves the Australian Parliament to shame. So in our view, young people are in fact the sail and not the anchor of Australian democracy.

MARGOT O'NEILL: Margot O'Neill, Lateline.