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Australia’s democracy has served us well — it’s given us stability, prosperity and the freedom to shape our future. But the McKinnon Index reminds us that democracy is not fixed. It’s a living system that must be renewed and nurtured by every generation. The results show both resilience and warning signs: 1. Australians overwhelmingly believe in democracy, yet satisfaction with how it works is slipping. 2. Trust in institutions remains strong, but confidence in political leadership is weaker. 3. Among younger Australians, disengagement and division are deepening — a sign too many feel their voice no longer counts. If we want democracy to thrive, we must continue to build trust — through leadership that listens, institutions that deliver, and systems that include everyone. At McKinnon, we’re committed to investing in that renewal — through evidence, leadership and reform that strengthen the connection between governments and the people they serve. Because every voice matters, and a healthy democracy depends on all of them being heard. Explore the findings: mckinnon.co/index

Australia’s democracy has long been a source of pride — a system that delivers stability, fairness and opportunity. But as any system built on trust, it needs care and renewal. I am proud that today we launch the McKinnon Index. A new national benchmark for the health of our democracy. It measures trust in leaders, the effectiveness of government, the performance of institutions and how Australians engage in politics and public life. The results show both resilience and risk. ▪️ Democracy remains robust. High levels of confidence in electoral commissions and electoral outcomes ▪️ But trust is uneven. Confidence in independent institutions is strong, yet political leaders and parties are less trusted. ▪️ Belief endures, satisfaction lags. Three-quarters of Australians prefer democracy to any alternative, but only just over half are satisfied with how it works today. ▪️ Social divides remain. One in five young Australians say they couldn’t be friends with someone who holds different political views. ▪️ Trust must be earned through delivery. Trust rises when governments are responsive and people feel heard. At McKinnon, we believe better governments build a stronger Australia. That’s why we created the Index — to track what strengthens or weakens trust, and to guide our collective efforts to renew our democracy. 👉 Explore the findings: mckinnon.co/index #McKinnonIndex

Did you know that although 76% of Australians say democracy is their preferred form of government, just 54.5% are satisfied with how it works? That's one of the findings of our annual measure of Australia's democratic health. Explore more findings - and what they might mean - mckinnon.co/index #McKinnonIndex

Australian politics is often judged by its failures — but every year, the McKinnon Prize reminds us of something powerful: leadership with courage, vision and empathy can be found in the halls of our Parliaments. This year’s winners (selected by an Independent panel lead by Dr Martin Parkinson) are Julian Leeser and Josh Burns - Federal Member for Macnamara (Federal), Peter Malinauskas (State) and Allegra Spender (Emerging) who all prove that politics at its best can unite communities, strengthen economies, and lead important national conversations. The McKinnon Prize exists for one unapologetically positive purpose: to celebrate politics done well. At a time when trust in institutions is low and divisions continue to widen, it’s never been more vital to remind ourselves that better is possible. Congratulations to all the McKinnon Prize winners (and to those short-listed) and thank you to all our panel members who oversaw the selection

As a Patron for the McKinnon Prize, I’m proud to celebrate leaders who demonstrate integrity, vision, and an unwavering commitment to our nation’s future. Since 2017, the McKinnon Prize – in partnership between McKinnon and University of Melbourne - has honoured those whose leadership makes a lasting difference for Australia. Congratulations to this year’s Emerging Political Leader of the Year nominees Hon. Jackie Jarvis MLC and Allegra Spender MP.

Meet this year's shortlisted nominees and those previously awarded The McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership. The Prize exists to celebrate leadership that inspires and unites people, not simply leadership that gets someone elected. Learn more > https://lnkd.in/dwm7sYBw