Only 35% of Australians Trust Government

The percentage of Australians who say they have trust in their governments has declined to 35 percent. The metric is contained in the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer, which measures public trust in four types of institution across 28 countries. Australia is now in the bottom third of the countries surveyed. The report says that in modern society, citizens delegate important aspects of their life to the four institutions. “In order to feel safe delegating important aspects of our lives and well-being to others, we need to trust them to act with integrity and with our best interests in mind.”

Future of Local Government National Summit Declaration

The Future of Local Government National Summit devised the declaration below in 2017. It aligns perfectly with our Town Team model as the movement spreads around Australia and New Zealand.

The Declaration

“Across the world people are concerned about the apparent inability of governments, business and public institutions to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of the 21st Century. Our present ways of thinking and governing are neither coping with the pace of change nor meeting citizens’ expectations. There is an urgent need for a fresh approach and responsive leadership.