As an extension of the Australian Leadership Index, members of the Australian public were surveyed for eight weeks between March 17 and May 6 to measure perceptions of the degree to which different institutions showed leadership for the greater good in response to the COVID-19 crisis. This report outlines the findings.

Key findings:

• Perceptions of overall leadership for the greater good reached positive levels for the first time ever in response to COVID-19. Perceptions peaked at the end of April, but declined slightly as restrictions began to ease.
• The government sector recorded sharp increases in perceptions of leadership for the greater good. This increase was particularly apparent in the federal government and in many of state governments, most notably the Western Australian government.
• Public health institutions were seen as showing exemplary leadership for the greater good. Private health institutions were also perceived positively, whereas health insurance companies were not perceived to lead in the public interest.
• Public sentiment about the education sector was mixed. Public education institutions were perceived to show a modest degree of leadership for the greater good. By contrast, private education institutions were not perceived to lead in the public interest.
• Australians considered themselves well-informed about the COVID-19 pandemic and relied heavily on public media and official government information to stay informed.