The Civic Health of Australia: A National Portrait in 30 Charts, published by the Australian Leadership Index and OurVoice, and powered by the Menzies Leadership Foundation, highlights the global retreat of democracy and the challenges facing political systems worldwide.
Recent research has painted a stark and deeply concerning picture of the current state of trust in Australia’s political institutions, revealing a profound and growing sense of dissatisfaction among the public towards the very structures meant to uphold democratic governance and serve the collective good. Among these institutions, political parties, which are inherently designed to channel the voices and aspirations of the people, have emerged as the most distrusted, surpassed only by the federal government, which continues to struggle with its public image and credibility. According to findings by the Museum of Australian Democracy, even state and local governments, which typically enjoy a degree of separation from the larger national critiques, fare only marginally better in terms of public trust, although local governments are seen as slightly more credible than their state counterparts.
This erosion of trust is no longer confined to isolated incidents or partisan criticisms but has evolved into a systemic issue that reflects widespread disillusionment with governance at all levels. While it is true that Australians, by and large, still value the democratic system—95% of Australians reported in 2023 that living in a democratic country is important to them—this deeply held belief in the concept of democracy has not translated into satisfaction with its practice. In fact, satisfaction levels have plummeted over the years, declining precipitously from a high of 85.6% in 2007 under the Howard government to a mere 59% in 2023. This decline in satisfaction underscores the growing perception that the system, as it currently operates, is neither responsive to the needs of its citizens nor capable of delivering the outcomes that align with public expectations.
Leadership for the Public Good: A Troubling Disconnect
The findings of the Australian Leadership Index offer an even more nuanced and troubling insight into how Australians perceive political leadership, with federal leadership in particular being viewed as fundamentally lacking in its commitment to serving the broader public good. Although there was a fleeting moment during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when public confidence in federal leadership experienced an unexpected upswing, this positive momentum was short-lived. As the immediate crisis subsided, perceptions of self-serving behaviour among politicians reasserted themselves, and trust in leadership quickly returned to its historically low levels.
These findings are further substantiated by the Australian Election Study, which reveals a striking contradiction in public attitudes towards political leaders. While 81% of Australians believe that politicians wield the greatest influence in setting national priorities—a power that, in theory, should enable them to address the most pressing challenges facing society—only 22% trust these same politicians to act in the public interest. This glaring disparity highlights the growing belief that those in positions of power are more inclined to prioritise narrow, special interests over the welfare of the broader population, thereby exacerbating the already significant trust deficit.
The Integrity Gap: A Growing Divide Between Expectation and Reality
Public perceptions of government integrity, which encompasses critical themes such as morality, impartiality, accountability, and transparency, have reached an unprecedented low, creating what experts now refer to as a “public integrity gap.” According to the Trust and Transparency Unit’s 2023 report, Australians continue to express deep dissatisfaction with their government’s performance across several key democratic metrics, including the impartial enforcement of laws, meaningful opportunities for public engagement in decision-making, and adequate safeguards to prevent the abuse of power by officials. This gap between public expectations and the government’s perceived performance has not only eroded trust but has also called into question the very legitimacy of democratic institutions.
Perhaps most strikingly, when contrasted with other institutions such as charities, hospitals, and emergency services—entities that are widely regarded as embodying both moral integrity and operational competence—government institutions stand out as conspicuous underperformers. Unlike these so-called “golden quadrant” institutions, which are viewed as having good intentions and the capability to enact them, governments at all levels are perceived as falling woefully short in both areas.
Regional and Social Divides in Trust
The issue of trust, while pervasive across the nation, is particularly pronounced in rural and regional areas, where perceptions of institutional neglect are most acute. According to research conducted by Next25, Australians living in rural and regional areas, as well as those residing in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, hold the dimmest views regarding the commitment of institutions to acting in the public interest. These findings highlight a significant and troubling regional disparity in how government institutions are perceived, suggesting that those who are geographically removed from the political centre in Canberra feel even more alienated and underserved.
Towards Rebuilding Democratic Resilience
The challenges facing Australia’s political institutions are undoubtedly formidable, but they are not insurmountable. To rebuild trust and restore confidence in the democratic system, it is imperative that governments at all levels take meaningful and transparent action to address the growing disconnect between public expectations and institutional performance. Such efforts must prioritise the restoration of integrity, the implementation of robust accountability mechanisms, and the creation of opportunities for genuine and inclusive public participation. Without these critical reforms, the current erosion of trust risks becoming an entrenched feature of Australian political life, undermining not only the legitimacy of individual governments but also the foundational principles of democracy itself.
Authored by Samuel Wilson, Eddie Kowalski, and Vlad Demsar, this report underscores the pressing challenges facing the nation’s civic health.
