The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

Trust in Institutions

6 Feb 2012

Q. How much trust do you have in the following national institutions:

A lot of trust Some trust A little trust No trust Don’t know
The Australian Defence Force 41% 37% 13% 4% 5%
The Federal Police 27% 41% 21% 6% 5%
The Federal and High Courts 24% 36% 26% 9% 5%
Our intelligence agencies like ASIO 20% 39% 23% 9% 10%
The Reserve Bank 19% 37% 27% 12% 5%
The Family Court 15% 35% 28% 15% 7%
The Commonwealth Public Service 10% 39% 30% 15% 6%
Business and banking regulators 6% 27% 34% 27% 6%

Respondents were most likely to say they had a lot of trust in the Australian Defence Force (41%), Federal Police (27%) and Federal and High Courts (24%).

The least trusted institutions were business band banking regulators (61% little/no trust), the Commonwealth Public Service (45%) and the Family Court (43%).

Labor voters were more likely to have a lot or some trust in the Commonwealth Public Service (59%), the Federal and High Courts (66%) and the Family Court (56%).

Liberal/National voters were more likely to have a lot or some trust in the Australian Defence Force (86%) and intelligence agencies like ASIO (66%).

Error: