Gov ScoreAustralia

Results · what happened?

Every figure we track

40 official series, grouped by topic. Open any one for the full chart, its sources, and a plain-English explanation, or see every chart on one page.

Cost of living

What families pay, and whether pay packets have kept up.

Inflation

Outside target

4.0%

annual CPI inflation, measured over the past 12 months

CommitmentIndirect influence

Real wages: private vs public sector

−1.4%

change in private-sector real wages since June quarter 2022 · June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Worse−1.4%Indirect influence
Past year−0.8%

Mortgage interest and income tax

5.4%

of household gross income goes on mortgage interest · June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Higher+2.9 ptsShared control
Past year+0.24 pts

Fuel prices

+13.5%

change in fuel prices over the past 12 months · August 2026

Since May 2022: little changed−0.6%Indirect influence
Past year+6.3%

Energy

Power bills and the promises made about them.

Electricity prices

+37.5%

change in electricity prices since June quarter 2022 · June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Worse+37.5%Shared control
Past year+22.0%

Power bills: the $275 promise

Not met

+$387

a year: rise in the default power price for a typical NSW household (Ausgrid)

CommitmentShared control

Wholesale gas prices

$9.08/GJ

average east-coast wholesale gas price · June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Better−68.0%Shared control
Past year−26.5%

Emissions target

Off track

25.0%

below 2005 emissions levels

CommitmentShared control

Housing

Building targets, prices and mortgage pain.

Mortgage costs

+$1,113

extra per month on a $600,000 loan vs May 2022 · July 2026

Since May 2022: Worse+3.10 ptsIndirect influence
Past year+0.40 pts

Interest rate rises

16

cash rate rises, versus 3 cuts · since 23 May 2022 (to 30 Sep 2026)

Since May 2022: Higher+3.25 ptsIndirect influence

Housing Accord: 1.2 million homes

Off track

74%

of the required pace achieved

CommitmentShared control

Home prices

$1.10m

average price of a residential dwelling in Australia · June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Higher+19.5%Shared control
Past year+6.8%

New residents per new home

2.3

new residents for every new home completed · 12 months to March quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Higher+17.0%Shared control
Past year−1.7%

Rents vs wages

+24.0%

rise in rents, against +15.1% for wages · June quarter 2022 to June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Higher+24.0%Indirect influence
Past year+3.5%

Home prices vs earnings

9.8 years

of average full-time earnings to buy the average home · June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Higher+1.7%Indirect influence
Past year+3.2%

Jobs, business & productivity

Who is hiring, who is going broke, and whether we're getting more productive.

Unemployment

4.6%

unemployment rate · August 2026

Since May 2022: Worse+0.6 ptsIndirect influence
Past year+0.40 pts

Public vs private sector jobs

+10.9%

growth in public-sector jobs · June quarter 2022 → June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Higher+10.9%Shared control
Past year+1.1%

Productivity

−0.86%

average annual productivity growth since the government took office · June quarter 2022 → June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Worse−3.4%Indirect influence
Past year−0.3%

Business collapses

14,722

companies entering external administration for the first time · 2024-25 financial year

Since May 2022: Worse+199.7%Indirect influence
Past year+33.2%

Living standards

Growth that matters: per person, after inflation.

Consumer confidence

80.4

consumer sentiment index (100 = optimists equal pessimists) · October 2026

Since May 2022: Worse−6.6%Indirect influence
Past year−11.5%

GDP per capita vs total GDP

−0.3%

change in real GDP per person since the government took office, while total GDP grew +7.4% · June quarter 2022 → June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: little changed−0.3%Indirect influence
Past year+0.7%

Household income per person

−2.2%

change in real disposable income per person since June quarter 2022 · March quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Worse−2.2%Shared control
Past year+0.5%

Living standards by decade

+1.0%

average yearly growth in real national income per person in the 2020s so far · 2020 to June quarter 2026

No mid-2022 figure to compareIndirect influence

GP bulk billing

In progress

84.1%

of GP visits bulk billed

CommitmentDirect federal control

Budget, debt & the size of government

Spending, debt, interest and the bureaucracy.

Size of government in the economy

28.8%

of the economy is public demand · June quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Higher+2.9 ptsShared control
Past year+0.20 pts

Tax take

23.7%

of GDP collected in Commonwealth tax receipts · 2024-25

Since May 2022: Higher+0.7 ptsDirect federal control
Past year+0.10 pts

Gross government debt

At risk

33.2%

gross government debt as a share of GDP (latest actual)

CommitmentDirect federal control

Budget deficits

−$31.5bn

underlying cash balance: a deficit · 2026-27 Budget estimate

Since May 2022: Better+$9.7bnDirect federal control
Past year−$12.3bn

Interest on government debt

$29.6bn

interest payments in one year · 2026-27 Budget estimate

Since May 2022: Worse+$9.6bnDirect federal control
Past year+$2.7bn

Government spending (share of GDP)

26.9%

of GDP spent by the Commonwealth, the highest in 40 years outside the COVID years · 2025-26 (Final Budget Outcome)

Since May 2022: Higher+0.5 ptsDirect federal control
Past year+0.70 pts

Size of the public service

+24.7%

growth in Australian Public Service (APS) headcount · 30 June 2022 → 30 June 2025

Since May 2022: Higher+24.7%Direct federal control
Past year+7.4%

NDIS cost growth

Off track

11.3%

annual growth in NDIS costs

CommitmentDirect federal control

Who pays the income tax

16.8%

of all personal income tax was paid by the top 1% of taxpayers · 2023-24

No mid-2022 figure to compareShared control
Past year−0.10 pts

Spending on consultants

$759.8m

in consultancy contracts starting in the year · 2025-26

Since May 2022: Higher+7.8%Direct federal control
Past year−3.3%

Population

Migration and pressure on homes and services.

Net overseas migration

292,000

net overseas migration · 12 months to March quarter 2026

Since May 2022: Higher+40.5%Direct federal control
Past year−5.6%

Money sent overseas by individuals

$2.7bn

sent overseas as personal transfers in a year · 2025-26

Since May 2022: Higher+$0.8bnIndirect influence
Past year+$0.0bn

Governance, defence & delivery

Legislation, defence and big-program delivery.

Defence spending

2.02%

of GDP on defence (traditional budget measure) · 2026-27 Budget

Since May 2022: little changed+0.15 ptsDirect federal control
Past year+0.10 pts

Background figures

Useful context that has no “better” or “worse”.