Australia
Current Score
Global Rank
Percentile
Last Updated
Ranking Trend
Australia's rank movement over the last 30 days
Score Analysis
Analysis of Australia's policy signalling profile
Australia's Social Policy Signalling Index score of 74 reflects a very high intensity in policy signalling, placing it second globally. This score is consistent with its comprehensive legislative and regulatory frameworks, such as the Online Safety Act and the role of the eSafety Commissioner, which are indicative of strong content moderation and online safety measures. Additionally, Australia's legal recognition of same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination protections further bolster this assessment. The country's corporate sector is also noteworthy for its ASX DEI mandates, including board diversity requirements and gender pay gap reporting, which contribute significantly to its high signalling intensity. The combination of these policies, alongside a strong focus on legislative activism and protest salience, supports the overall score.
Examining the dimension scores, Australia's highest signalling intensity is seen in the Speech & Expression Climate and Legislative/Regulatory Activism, both scoring above 98, indicating a robust framework for protecting and promoting progressive policies. Corporate/Investor Signalling also ranks highly, reflecting significant DEI initiatives. However, the Institutional DEI Policy Intensity score is comparatively lower at 34.77, suggesting room for development in this area relative to others. Meanwhile, Education & Curriculum Signalling and Media & Platform Moderation demonstrate moderate intensity, indicating balanced efforts in these dimensions. Overall, these dimension scores illustrate Australia's strong commitment to progressive policy signalling across various sectors.
Score Breakdown by Dimension
Weighted components of the composite score
Recent Events
Events that influenced this country's score
Australia’s marine parks protect ‘places no one goes’ rather than fragile coastal zones, scientists say
Hundreds of experts write to environment minister calling for stronger protections for ‘unique and distinct’ marine ecosystems Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Australian government has been accused of leaving coastal waters largely unprotected by establishing the bulk of highly protected marine parks in remote areas. More than 270 leading marine scientists from 84 research institutes have written to the environment minister, Murray Watt, urging stronger protections for marine ecosystems, as a once-in-a-decade review of marine parks gets under way. Continue reading...
Illicit deeds have just gotten a new Halloween video game banned in Australia – and it’s not because of the violence
Academics – and a former director of Australia’s Classification Board – say Halloween: The Game’s ban due to ‘incentivised drug use’ highlights an incoherent set of standards Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Halloween’s Michael Myers is one of film’s most feared boogeymen, responsible for some of the most brutal on-screen deaths in horror cinema. US video game developer Illfonic looked to reproduce those terrors in its upcoming title Halloween: The Game, with gruesome killings a major focus of the gameplay: for instance, you can stomp another player’s head through a toilet seat, or fry their brain by throwing them through a television screen. But Australians will not be able to play Halloween: The Game, because it has been refused classification by the Classification Board, which means it is banned from sale within the country. And it’s not because of the violence or murders. Continue reading...
‘Absurd’: children to see gambling logos on sports jerseys until 2032 in transition period condemned by Pocock
Government says it hopes clubs will end jersey deals with wagering companies earlier, but calls it a commercial decision Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Children across Australia will continue to see gambling logos on professional sport jerseys until up to 2032 despite the government’s pledge to break the link between sport and wagering. The Albanese government has banned gambling company logos on jerseys but legislated a five-year transition period to allow clubs and bookmakers to adjust. Continue reading...
Australia’s first home buyers are still taking out loans as property investors step back, data shows
Exclusive: New entrants the only cohort making more loan applications amid interest rate rises and tax changes, mortgage broker says Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast First home buyers are still taking out a large number of loans, with government backing, even as investors step back from Australia’s property market. New entrants are now the only cohort applying for more loans than they were in June, according to new data from Loan Market, the mortgage broking company. Continue reading...
Immersive experiences at heart of Powerhouse Parramatta grand opening
As the grand opening of Powerhouse Parramatta nears, installation of more than 3,000 objects sourced from Australia and around the world continues.
Australia confirms H5N1 bird flu case in local mammal
Australian authorities said the deadly virus's spread to mammals was "concerning" but "not unexpected."
Quick hits: A Shoriful stunner amid more left-arm carnage in the 29th two-day Test
Mitchell Starc delivers once more but it's another left-arm seamer who delivers the ball of the series, as Test cricket is blessed with its 29th two-day match. Here are the quick hits from day two of the second Test between Australia and Bangladesh.
Thousands line riverbank to welcome Spirit IV 'home' to Devonport
After years of delays and cost blowouts, Spirit of Tasmania IV has arrived in its home port of Devonport for testing ahead of October sailings.
Hundreds walk through Brookfield after alleged early morning sexual assault
Hundreds of people walked through the Brisbane suburb of Brookfield in a show of strength and solidarity after the alleged early morning sexual assault of a 23-year-old woman.
Coalition wants to split Court of Appeal to focus on tougher sentences
The Victorian opposition says it will create a Court of Criminal Appeal if it wins the November election as part of its tough on crime policies.