Democracy is under sustained pressure everywhere. Australia is one of the world’s leading democracies, but cannot take it for granted. This report shows that democracy is backsliding globally, and the world order in which Australia has flourished is being seriously tested. 

Key findings

• Compared to other countries, Australia comes from a place of strength.
• Australians consistently value democracy, but satisfaction is more fragile.
• Democratic engagement beyond voting is fairly low in Australia.
• Many Australians are pessimistic about the economy.
• Australians' sense of belonging and opportunity has declined.
• Australians have relatively low trust in media, especially social media.

The report identifies five priorities for Australia to build a better and more resilient democracy.

1. Federal parliament sits at the centre of our democracy. We should make it more representative and better functioning, to engender greater trust and improve long-term decision-making and the administration of government.
2. We must build engagement to ensure that Australians have a voice and feel a sense of belonging, particularly those who find themselves on the margins of the economy and society.
3. We must protect our public sphere – where Australians inform themselves and engage in the contest of ideas – by ensuring the sustainability of our news media and investing in institutions that produce trusted information.
4. In a democracy, process matters, but so do outcomes. Australians need confidence that our system of government can work for them and is capable of making difficult policy reforms in the public interest, not vested interests.
5. Crises are the moments that build or erode trust. Our governments need to be better prepared, by reducing our vulnerability to known risks, building fiscal buffers and calibrating expectations about what governments can do to cushion the blow.

The report is provided with chart data.