The Purpose of Government Pulse Report 2025 examines public attitudes towards government and democracy in Australia. Based on nearly a decade of survey data, it reveals a strong and consistent belief among Australians that democracy should ensure fairness and equality, and government should be focused on supporting wellbeing, and ensuring a decent standard of living.
Australians continue to expect government to play an active role in providing essential services, but they are increasingly frustrated by short-term political decision-making and feel disconnected from the policy process. The report highlights growing concerns about political representation and trust, and shows there is clear public support for more ambitious, long-term policy making.
As we approach a federal election, the priorities for government are clear: deliver ambitious long-term reforms that prioritise wellbeing, lift living standards, and give the public a stronger voice in shaping policy.
By Andrew Hudson
Democracy is built on trust — trust that elected governments act in the public interest, serve people fairly, and effectively address long-term challenges. Across the world, that trust is being tested.
Recent events have made the fault lines more evident. Wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere have laid bare the fragility of a global order that is increasingly shaped by the whims of a few. Governments are struggling to respond to rising inequality, growing economic uncertainty, and extreme weather events driven by climate change.
In many democracies, public institutions struggle to keep pace with overlapping crises, while politics is stuck in short-term cycles, and more focused on spin and political point scoring than delivering solutions. Australia is not immune to these pressures.
For nearly a decade, the Centre for Policy Development’s Purpose of Government Pulse has tracked public expectations of government and democracy. Our latest findings offer a degree of optimism and suggest future directions for government.
Australians continue to believe in fairness and equality as the core, guiding values of democracy. They see ensuring a decent standard of living as the primary role of governments and want governments to directly deliver social services to support that standard. They want governments to make the long-term wellbeing of the population a top priority in decision making. Australians want their governments to have an active, direct hand in supporting people to live decent lives.
But our findings also reveal growing unease. Australians feel politics is increasingly detached from their day-to-day experiences and that politicians do not serve their interests. Australians perceive that politicians prioritise short-term gains over lasting progress. Many feel disenfranchised and want a greater say in policymaking. This may explain why so many Australians turned away from the two major parties at the last federal election, and may do so again in 2025.
Restoring trust in government and democracy needs more than rhetoric. Governments must show that they can govern for the long term. This requires bold action that restores confidence in public services and prioritises wellbeing and fairness as the foundations of decision-making.
In the run up to the 2025 federal election, the Purpose of Government Pulse offers a critical window into Australian public sentiment and shows that faith in democratic government must be actively sustained, and never taken for granted. We hope these insights will be a valuable resource for decision-makers, researchers, and all those working to strengthen democracy in Australia.
Andrew Hudson is the CEO of the Centre for Policy Development
Australians see the primary role of government as ensuring a decent standard of living.
Since March 2023, this has been the top priority, with roughly one in three (31%) selecting this response. The shift likely reflects rising financial pressures and growing expectations that governments should address immediate economic concerns.
Fairness and equality remain at the heart of Australians’ understanding of democracy.
Despite shifting political and economic conditions, most Australians (33%) see upholding fairness and equality as the core purpose of democracy, reflecting the enduring ideal of a ‘fair go.’
Wellbeing should be the top priority for governments.
76% of Australians believe governments should put people’s wellbeing ahead of short-term political or economic goals, reinforcing public expectations that governments should be focused first and foremost on supporting people to live with dignity and security.
Australians want governments to retain the capability to deliver social services directly.
Despite high profile failures like the Robodebt scheme and aged care crises, 85% of Australians want governments to maintain the capacity to provide essential services such as healthcare, education and emergency services, particularly in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australians think politics prioritises short-term gains over long-term challenges.
Australians aren’t convinced that long-term, existential challenges like climate disasters and housing affordability are top priorities, with 63% believing that quick wins are favoured in politics.
Australians feel unrepresented by politicians and want a greater say in policymaking.
55% of Australians believe that politicians are focused on the wrong issues and do not serve the public interest. Australians are dissatisfied with how decisions are made, and 62% want more public involvement in setting government priorities.
What do you think is the primary purpose of government?
Overview
One in three (31%) respondents believe the primary purpose of government is to ensure a decent standard of living. Since March 2023, this has consistently ranked as the leading priority, maintaining a 3 to 8 percentage point margin over other options.
This marks a significant shift from earlier survey waves. In October 2021, “ensure a decent standard of living” ranked fourth (17%). By March 2023, as financial pressures associated with global inflation mounted, it had risen to first place (30%), where it has remained since. This shift likely reflects the sharp increase in the cost of living since early 2022, with economic challenges becoming a more immediate concern that Australians expect their governments to address.
This trend is further supported by a decline in respondents selecting “improve the overall wellbeing of the population” and “deliver and fund critical services and infrastructure”, the two previous leading responses. While these remain important, Australians may now view them as secondary, longer-term priorities, with more immediate economic concerns taking precedence.
Demographic differences
Notable differences across demographic groups:
What do you think is the main purpose of democracy?
Australians have consistently viewed “ensuring that all people are treated fairly and equally, including the most vulnerable in the community” as the primary purpose of democracy, with 33% of respondents selecting this option in January 2025, 17 percentage points higher than the next most selected response. This has remained consistent across all survey waves since October 2017.
The persistence of this view suggests that fairness and equality are seen as core democratic values for Australians, largely unchanged by shifting economic or political conditions. This contrasts with views on the purpose of government, which have fluctuated over time in response to immediate pressure like a rising cost of living. The emphasis on fairness may also reflect the deeply held Australian ideal of a ‘fair go’.
Since October 2021, the rankings of the other five responses have remained relatively stable, with no single option exceeding 19% in any survey wave.
The wellbeing of the population should be the top consideration in government decision making, above other concerns
Since this question was first asked in October 2021, a clear majority of Australians have consistently agreed that “the wellbeing of the population should be the top consideration in government decision-making, above other concerns,” with 76% agreement in January 2025.
The consistency of this response over time suggests a deeply held belief that people’s wellbeing should take precedence over other economic or political priorities. This view aligns with other findings in the survey, including strong support for fairness, equality, and the government’s role in ensuring a decent standard of living – pointing to a public expectation that government should play an active role in helping people lead good lives.
Disagreement with the statement remains low, with just 8% of respondents disagreeing in the most recent survey.
In the long term, how important is it that the government maintain the capability and skills to deliver social services directly, rather than paying private companies and charities to deliver these?
Australians have consistently viewed it important for governments to maintain the capability and skills to deliver social services directly. In January 2025, 85% of respondents agreed it was important.
This sustained support suggests that Australians continue to value governments’ role in providing social services, particularly in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic. This aligns with broader findings showing strong public expectations for government involvement in supporting wellbeing, fairness, and a decent standard of living.
While support for government service delivery has remained high – ranging from a low of 77% in 2018 to a peak of 90% in 2022 – there has been a gradual, albeit small, increase in those who view this as less important, rising from 5% in 2022 to 10% in January 2025. This shift may reflect growing public concern about well-publicised failures such as issues in aged care and the Robodebt scheme, which may have influenced perceptions of government performance over time.
Our politics is more concerned with short-term gains than addressing long-term challenges affecting us, for example in ten years’ time
A clear majority of Australians continue to agree that politics is more focused on short-term gains than addressing long-term challenges, with 63% agreement recorded in January 2025.
Agreement was higher in earlier surveys, with 75% in October 2018 and 73% in October 2017. The key shift over time has been an increase in respondents selecting “neither agree nor disagree,” which has grown from 16% in 2018 to 24% in January 2025.
This change is likely influenced by a survey design adjustment prior to the March 2023 poll, when the “don’t know” option was replaced with “neither agree nor disagree.” This appears to have drawn some respondents away from “agree”, without affecting the level of disagreement, which has remained steady at around 10-12% across all survey waves.
Ordinary citizens should have a greater say in setting the policy priorities of government
A clear majority of Australians continue to agree that ordinary citizens should have a greater say in setting the policy priorities of their governments, with 62% agreement recorded in January 2025.
While support remains strong, agreement was higher in earlier surveys, reaching 77% in October 2018. The decline since then has been largely driven by an increase in respondents selecting “neither agree nor disagree”, which grew following a survey design change prior to the March 2023 poll that replaced the previous “don’t know” option. This adjustment appears to have shifted some respondents away from “agree”, while disagreement has remained stable at around 10-12% across all survey waves.
Our elected representatives do not seem to be serving my interests
A majority of Australians agree that politicians do not seem to be serving their interests, with 55% agreement recorded in January 2025.
While agreement has remained steady over the past three survey waves (from March 2023 to January 2025), this marks a noticeable decline from earlier years, when 70% of respondents agreed in October 2018. This decline has been largely driven by an increase in respondents selecting “neither agree nor disagree”, following a survey design change prior to the March 2023 poll that replaced the previous “don’t know” option. This appears to have shifted some respondents away from “agree”, while disagreement has remained stable at around 14-16% across all survey waves.
Our elected parliaments are generally effective at tackling major challenges for the country
Responses to this question are fairly evenly divided, with slightly more agreeing that elected parliaments are generally effective at tackling major challenges for the country. In January 2025, 37% of respondents agreed, while 29% disagreed and 33% neither agreed nor disagreed.
Since the previous survey in December 2023, there has been a modest shift in sentiment, with agreement increasing by 4 points (from 33% to 37%) and disagreement falling by 4 points (from 33% to 29%).
While results have been stable in recent years, there was a notable shift between 2018 and 2023, with the share of respondents selecting “neither agree nor disagree” rising from 15% to 33%. This coincided with a survey change prior to the March 2023 poll replacing the “don’t know” option, which likely moved some respondents away from “disagree”, while agreement remained relatively steady between 33% and 39%.
This level of government is most responsible for delivering services to the community
Australians have consistently seen state and territory governments as primarily responsible for delivering services to the community. In January 2025, 47% of respondents identified state and territory governments as the most responsible for service delivery, 17 percentage points higher than the next most selected response of local council.
This likely reflects the visibility of the services states manage – such as schools, hospitals, public transport, and emergency services. It also helps explain why more respondents continue to associate service delivery with local councils than with the federal government, with a 7-point gap in January 2025 (30% vs. 23%). Like state governments, councils are closely linked to highly visible, everyday services, while the federal government’s role tends to be less direct, focused on funding, policy, and coordination.
However, the gap between local and federal government has narrowed over time to 7 points, falling from 12 points in December 2023 (33% vs. 21%) and 11 points in March 2023 (33% vs. 22%).
This level of government directly benefits me the most
Australians continue to see state and territory governments as delivering the most direct benefit, with 46% of respondents selecting this option in January 2025. This maintains a 14-point lead over the next most selected option, the federal government, at 32%.
This again likely reflects the visibility of state-managed services and the high level of day-to-day interaction Australians have with them, shaping perceptions of where the greatest benefit is received.
The January 2025 results also mark a shift from December 2023, when the gap between the three levels of government was narrower. In particular, the difference between the federal government and local councils has widened – from just 2 points in December 2023 (31% vs. 29%) to 10 points in January 2025 (32% vs. 22%).
This may reflect recent federal initiatives, such as tax cuts, energy bill relief and pay rises for public servants, which have provided more tangible benefits at a national level, while local councils have fewer opportunities to deliver large-scale direct benefits.
This level of government is the most competent
In January 2025, state governments were seen as the most competent level of government, with 43% of respondents selecting them – 7 percentage points ahead of the federal government (36%).
Over time, perceptions of competence have remained relatively close between state and federal governments, suggesting Australians see both as playing significant and capable roles in managing services and responsibilities. Local governments, by contrast, have consistently been rated as the least competent, with just 21% of respondents selecting them in January 2025.
This level of government best reflects the interests and needs of the community
State and local governments are consistently seen as better reflecting community needs and interests than the federal government. In January 2025, 41% of respondents identified state governments as best reflecting community needs – slightly ahead of local governments at 38%, with both levels well ahead of the federal government (20%).
This likely reflects the closer proximity of state and local governments to people’s everyday lives. Both are responsible for services and infrastructure that directly affect communities – such as schools, hospitals, emergency services, roads, parks, and local planning – which can make them appear more responsive and attuned to local priorities. In comparison, the broad national policy focus of the federal government may be seen as more distant and less responsive to the needs of individual people and communities.
This report examines the perspectives of Australians aged 18 and older on the purpose and functions of government, democracy, and the roles of federal, state/territory, and local governments.
It accompanies an online tool for readers to explore the data which can be accessed here – this forms a major part of the Purpose of Government Pulse project.
The data is drawn from nine survey waves conducted by Essential Research between October 2015 and January 2025. Unless otherwise noted, findings reflect consistent trends across multiple waves, though most references highlight the latest polling results from January 2025. A full breakdown of results across all survey waves is available via the interactive data visualisation at cpd.org.au.
Weighting is applied to the data using information sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). The factors used in the weighting are age, gender, location (all from the latest ABS Census), previous vote (from the May 2022 Federal Election) and, starting with the late October 2023 poll, education (from the latest ABS Census).
Unless otherwise stated, survey questions referring to ‘government’ did not specify a particular level, political party, or other distinction, allowing respondents to interpret the term as they saw fit.
