McKinnon Index: Sharp Decline in Democratic Confidence Demands New Approaches to Engagement

The release of the inaugural McKinnon Index has sparked national coverage and a clear warning: confidence in Australian democracy is weakening, especially among younger Australians and those in regional and remote communities.

Reporting across the ABC, The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald highlights several consistent findings from the Index:

Trust in democratic institutions is uneven, with confidence significantly lower in outer-regional and remote areas than in major cities.

Younger Australians show some of the lowest confidence levels, and many say political differences are now a social barrier — even a deal-breaker in friendships.

The Index also reveals deep scepticism toward federal politics, with a substantial proportion of Australians believing political leaders do not understand or represent them.

Concerns about service delivery, local representation and the decline of regional news outlets are contributing to the trust gap.

For organisations, advocacy campaigns and policy voices, the implications are clear: one-size-fits-all communication no longer works. Engagement needs to be more localised, more transparent and more attuned to generational attitudes.

At Emerald House, we help clients navigate this environment with messaging and strategies built around clarity, trust and genuine connection. The McKinnon Index confirms how essential that work is — and how quickly expectations are shifting.

If you’d like support understanding what these findings mean for your organisation or campaign, we’re here to help.

ABC News: Australians outside major cities are losing confidence in democracy, report finds
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-10/confidence-democracy-study-mckinnon-index-release/105987574 ABC

The Australian: The McKinnon Index survey found thousands of Australians did not have trust in politicians
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/shock-new-survey-reveals-australias-democracy-is-not-unshakeable/news-story/0c2ed3387e6474b354ed4f7aba0aa3db

The Sydney Morning Herald/ The Age: Young people most likely to see political views as dealbreaker for friendship — https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/young-people-most-likely-to-see-political-views-as-dealbreaker-for-friendship-20251107-p5n8n2.html