Today, pre-polling opens across the country. The shape of campaigns in Australia has changed radically in the recent past.

Just look at the numbers. The Essential Poll out last week tells us that in  the 2019 election, 56% of Australians voted at a polling booth on the day, now only 36% intend to. So almost two-thirds will vote early.

The big-ticket announcements are almost over, for the simple reason that they have to be. You can’t influence a cast vote.

While many have been less than riveted, Essential made it clear that levels of what they call “engagement” were rock-bottom. About 48% have been paying little or no attention to the campaign, and those numbers have been pretty steady over at least six years. It is tempting to say, “Yes, but there have been big distractions, the campaign has been a bit dull, charismatic leaders are in short supply” – but such a big level of disengagement points to a loss of public trust, not just in politics, but in public institutions broadly.

Certainly, many institutions that are central to a healthy democracy are under serious pressure. You may have noted a wave of support in recent days for Harvard University as it stands up to Donald Trump. We will bring you more on that this week. Harvard is America’s oldest university, and what it does matters. University president Alan Garbar has finally had enough, saying: “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.” Former US president Barack Obama has weighed in, saying Harvard was setting an example for the sector.

Looking ahead to Anzac Day at the end of this short week, Douglas Newton will bring us voices of the veterans of that war, 110 years after the Gallipoli landings. Drawn from interviews, mostly recorded at the Australian War Memorial, the veterans tell of terror, shell-shock and senselessness. It is a very powerful piece.

The “If I were the minister…” series continues with school education, public service and health in the frame, and we will bring you Jeffrey Sachs on Syria, the US and the CIA. Jocelyn Chey looks at how we develop ties with our region amidst swirling change, and we bring you a very human story illustrating the ongoing damage being done by the axing of USAID.

Until next week.