SECURELY CONNECTING AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WITH THEIR CITIZENS

摘要

Over a year has passed since the start of the pandemic. While some countries in Asia-Pacific grapple with extended lockdowns and movement controls, it is becoming increasingly clear that others, including Australia and New Zealand, have emerged as standouts in managing the crisis. But what separates these two groups? As political scientist Francis Fukuyama puts it, it may depend on ‘whether citizens trust their leaders, and whether those leaders preside over a competent and effective state’. This is far easier said than done. While general trust for governments in the region is high, the next months are critical in applying lessons learned from the pandemic in terms of communication, interaction between citizens and authorities, and moving industries and economies forward.