Australian Government accessibility index
Tracking privacy, security and accessibility statements across 198 federal, state and territory government departments. Created April 2025, updated April 2026.
What is the Australian Government Accessibility Index?
The Australian Government Accessibility Index is ExceedAbility's annual research tracking privacy, security and accessibility statements across 198 federal, state and territory government departments. It was created in April 2025 and updated in April 2026. At the latest update, 24 of the 165 departments that could be assessed had no published accessibility statement, and fewer than 5% published all three statements.
Key findings, April 2026 update
ExceedAbility's April 2026 review of 198 Australian government department websites found:
- 165 of the 198 departments could be assessed. The remaining 33, all South Australian, sit behind websites that actively block automated scanning, which is itself a transparency finding.
- 24 of the 165 assessable departments (15%) publish no accessibility statement. A published statement is the most basic public accessibility commitment a government website can make.
- Only 8 of the 165 (fewer than 5%) publish all three statements: privacy, security and accessibility.
- Security statements are the rarest of the three. 156 of the 165 assessable departments (95%) publish none.
- Coverage varies sharply by jurisdiction. Every assessable department tracked in the ACT, the Northern Territory and Western Australia publishes an accessibility statement. Tasmania (50%) and Queensland (55%) trail the nation.
- 6 of the 20 Commonwealth departments tracked publish no accessibility statement, despite the Digital Experience Policy applying to them and the Style Manual telling agencies to publish one.
ExceedAbility, Australian Government Accessibility Index, April 2026 update, exceedability.com. The headline findings and jurisdiction figures on this page may be quoted freely with attribution to ExceedAbility. Journalists and researchers can request the underlying dataset and methodology notes at [email protected].
This is more than a technical oversight - it signals that accessibility has not been considered, prioritised, or understood at a leadership level. Government agencies in Australia have obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and are expected to meet WCAG 2.1 AA. Publishing an accessibility statement is the minimum first step - it communicates to users with disability that your organisation is aware of its obligations and is taking action.
Government agencies can use our free tool to create an accessibility statement as a starting point. Departments without a published statement are identified with a NOT PUBLISHED badge below. If you need further assistance, contact ExceedAbility - we can help you meet your obligations quickly and cost-effectively.
| Department | Privacy Policy | Security Statement | Accessibility Statement | Score |
|---|
Methodology
Statement URLs are discovered by automated scanning of each department homepage. Footer and navigation links are checked for keywords including privacy, security, and accessibility. Common URL path patterns (/privacy, /accessibility-statement etc.) are also tested directly.
Results reflect publicly discoverable statements only. A result of "Not Found" means no statement was located automatically - it does not confirm absence. Departments whose websites return HTTP 403 to all automated requests are marked as Blocked and cannot be assessed.
Data covers 198 federal, state and territory government departments across Commonwealth, NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT and NT. Notify us of corrections or improvements.
For a deeper, per-agency intelligence view of NSW Government, see NSW Government Accessibility Intelligence: indicative WCAG 2.1 AA scores, common issues and remediation focus across 15 NSW agencies.
Common questions about the Government Accessibility Index
Plain answers to what the index measures and how to read it.
How many government departments are missing an accessibility statement?
As at the April 2026 update, 24 of the 198 departments tracked had no published accessibility statement. A published statement is a basic transparency signal, so its absence is a useful early indicator of accessibility maturity.
How is the index compiled?
The index reviews the public websites of 198 federal, state and territory government departments for the presence of privacy, security and accessibility statements. It is a transparency tracker based on published statements, not a full WCAG conformance audit of each site.
How often is the index updated?
The index was created in April 2025 and is updated periodically; the current data reflects an April 2026 update. Departments can notify ExceedAbility of improvements so the record stays current.
Does a published accessibility statement mean a site is compliant?
No. A published statement shows an organisation has considered accessibility and provides a feedback channel, but it does not by itself prove WCAG 2.2 conformance. Confirming compliance requires a full audit with manual and assistive-technology testing.
Is your accessibility statement up to standard?
ExceedAbility can review, write or improve your accessibility statement - and help you meet the obligations behind it.
Book a Discovery Call Talk to us today