report foreword
In recent years, as chronicled in countless news stories and reports into trust, public integrity, accountability, transparency and corruption, our institutions of government have become widely seen as places of maladministration and misconduct, more concerned with serving self and vested interests ahead of the public interest. Although these concerns are expressed in relation to all levels of government, they are arguably most pronounced in relation to federal government.
In this special report, the Australian Leadership Index takes stock of the current state of federal government leadership for the greater good, as perceived by the Australian public. By examining public perceptions of government integrity, competence and contribution to public value, overall and against national benchmarks, we reveal the low esteem in which federal government is held and contextualise the results within Australia’s wider institutional landscape.
Importantly, because the restoration of public trust in government must be a bipartisan or multi-partisan effort, we do not differentiate between the Morrison and Albanese governments in the findings presented in this report. Indeed, the administrations are represented fairly evenly in these results, which are based on data collected between October 2021 to March 2023.
Further, because governments are entrusted in public office to act in the public interest, we point to opportunities for political leaders across the aisle to begin to restore public trust in government. Specifically, we identify the factors that foster public perceptions of government integrity, competence and contribution and, in the long run, the sense that government serves the public interest.
KEY FINDINGS
Federal Government Widely Seen As Incompetent and Lacking Integrity
ABOUT THE REPORT
The Australian Leadership Index addresses three fundamental aspects of leadership for the greater good in Australia: public perceptions of its state in a variety of social institutions and sectors; public expectations about leadership for the greater good; and the factors that predict or ‘drive’ public perceptions of leadership for the greater good.
To understand public perceptions and expectations about leadership for the good, ALI surveys approximately 1,000 people across all Australian states and territories each quarter. Each participant is asked to rate the performance of 4 randomly assigned institutions (from a list of 25) on leadership and its key drivers, integrity, contribution, and competence.
This report draws on results from our survey data based on a nationally representative sample collected from October 2021 to December 2022, collecting data on each participant’s perceptions of Federal Government leadership across that time period for each of the ALI’s metrics.
