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 overall score on the Social Policy Signalling Index stands at 78, ranking it at the top globally in terms of policy signalling intensity. This high score is driven by significant legislative and regulatory activism, particularly the Online Safety Act and impressive content moderation frameworks such as the eSafety Commissioner. These elements, combined with comprehensive LGBTQ rights, including the legalization of same-sex marriage and strong anti-discrimination protections, contribute to Australia's leading position. The country's institutional policies, such as mandatory gender pay gap reporting and ASX diversity mandates, further amplify its signalling intensity, justifying the high score despite some dimension scores being slightly lower.
When examining the dimension scores, Australia's Legislative/Regulatory Activism exhibits the highest intensity at 98.31, reflecting robust policy efforts in this domain. The Speech & Expression Climate also scores notably high at 94.62, indicating a strong commitment to maintaining a balanced expression environment. Corporate/Investor Signalling and Media & Platform Moderation scores are also significant, demonstrating a pervasive institutional focus. However, the Institutional DEI Policy Intensity score is lower at 62.46, suggesting room for growth in institutional diversity policies compared to other dimensions. Overall, the dimension scores highlight Australia's commitment to extensive policy frameworks and enforcement, solidifying its position as a leader in policy signalling intensity.
Score Breakdown by Dimension
Weighted components of the composite score
Recent Events
Events that influenced this country's score
Venezuela's Machado says Maduro will leave power 'whether negotiated or not'
Nobel laureate María Corina Machado says she's focused on achieving a peaceful transition of power, adding that she's confident the majority of Venezuela's armed forces and police will follow orders from a duly elected government.
The ATO is meant to be bringing work back in-house. But its target to cut consultants is ‘woefully inadequate’
Figure revealed this week was so low the Australian Services Union asked if it was a typographical error Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Australian Taxation Office is aiming to reduce its outsourced work by $500,000 this financial year within its $4.5bn annual operating budget, a figure so small the union says it presumed it was a typo. Senator Barbara Pocock said the amount, revealed after a Senate Estimates hearing, was “woefully inadequate” for a major agency that should be leading the way on reducing reliance on contractors and consultants. Continue reading...
Reddit files suit against Australia's social media ban
In a High Court challenge, the US-based company is arguing that the age verification process could push away older teens and young adults.
Hendra virus detected in the NT for the first time
Horse owners in the Northern Territory are being encouraged to vaccinate their animals after a bat tested positive for Hendra virus, in the territory's first confirmed case.
Man charged over alleged death threats to MP Anika Wells and family
A man accused of sending dozens of emails threatening to kill federal Communications Minister Anika Wells and her family appears in a Sydney court.
Reddit challenges Australia's under-16 social media ban, claims law curbs political discussion
Reddit argues that the world-first law is unconstitutional because it infringes on Australia’s implied freedom of political communication.
Court told Dreaming story not withheld as 'trump card' to stop gold mine
An elders' group has told a Federal Court in Sydney that the Blue Banded Bee Dreaming story was not being kept "up its sleeve" three years after a protection bid was first made to the Commonwealth.
Why US review of Aukus submarine deal for Australia is kept secret
The decision to keep details of a recent US review into the Aukus defence pact under wraps is seen as a deliberate move to shield the three-nation submarine deal from any doubts over its viability that could undermine political or public backing, analysts say. The Pentagon announced last Thursday it had completed its assessment of the programme and identified ways to place it on the “strongest possible footing”, citing US President Donald Trump’s push to drive the arrangement “full steam...
Reddit challenges Australia’s new under-16 social media ban in High Court
Social media platform Reddit on Friday filed a suit challenging Australia’s new law banning under-16s from major platforms, arguing that it violates the nation’s implied freedom of political communication. The move follows a similar case filed by a rights group last month, even as the government vows to enforce the world-first restrictions.
Reddit Sues Australian Government to Block Social Media Ban
The company said the new law, which makes it illegal for children under 16 to have social media accounts, infringes on children’s rights.