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"trust"
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Unsure | Difference | Difference Sep’21 | ||
| National Security | 38% | 32% | 29% | +6 | +13 | |
| Management of the economy | 41% | 33% | 26% | +8 | +10 | |
| Maintaining international relations | 33% | 36% | 30% | -3 | +5 | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 33% | 40% | 27% | -7 | -3 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 32% | 40% | 27% | -8 | -4 | |
| Housing affordability | 27% | 39% | 34% | -12 | -9 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 32% | 41% | 26% | -9 | -9 | |
| Addressing climate change | 26% | 39% | 35% | -13 | -13 | |
| Fair wages and workplace conditions | 29% | 45% | 26% | -16 | -18 | |
| Base (n) | 1,089 | 1,089 | 1,089 | 1,094 |
- In the time since the fall-out from the government’s AUKUS submarine announcement and Scott Morrison’s COP26 performance, fewer people trust the Liberal party to maintain international relations and handle national security.
- In September, more people trusted the Liberal government to maintain international relations than the Labor party (37% trusted the Liberals, 32% Labor). Now 36% trust Labor and 33% trust the Liberals.
- 38% of people now trust the Liberals to handle national security (41% in September) while trust in the Labor party has increased from 28% to 32%.
Trust in institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
| TOTAL: Trust | Oct’21 | Change since Mar’21 | Mar’21 | Aug’20 | |
| Scientific bodies (e.g. CSRIO) | 68% | n/a | n/a | ||
| State & federal health authorities | 64% | -4% | 70% | 69% | |
| Police, courts and the justice system | 61% | -3% | 64% | 64% | |
| Universities | 59% | n/a | n/a | ||
| State or territory government | 55% | -11% | 66% | 60% | |
| The Commonwealth public service | 52% | -5% | 57% | 56% | |
| Federal government | 48% | -6% | 54% | 55% |
| TOTAL:
Trust |
TOTAL:
Don’t trust |
Have a lot of trust | Have some trust | Have little trust | Have no trust at all | Unsure | |
| Scientific bodies (e.g. CSRIO) | 68% | 25% | 30% | 38% | 18% | 7% | 7% |
| State & federal health authorities | 64% | 31% | 21% | 43% | 21% | 11% | 5% |
| Police, courts and the justice system | 61% | 35% | 18% | 43% | 23% | 12% | 4% |
| Universities | 59% | 34% | 19% | 41% | 26% | 9% | 7% |
| State or territory government | 55% | 41% | 16% | 39% | 25% | 16% | 4% |
| The Commonwealth public service | 52% | 41% | 12% | 40% | 29% | 12% | 7% |
| Federal government | 48% | 47% | 13% | 35% | 29% | 18% | 5% |
- Trust in the state/territory government and federal government has decreased since Mar’21. Trust in state/territory government has dropped from 66% to 55%, and trust in the federal government from 54% to 48%.
- People have the most trust in scientific bodies (68%) and health authorities (64%).
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Unsure | Difference | Difference Oct’19 | ||
| National Security | 41% | 28% | 32% | +13 | +17 | |
| Management of the economy | 41% | 31% | 29% | +10 | +15 | |
| Maintaining international relations | 37% | 32% | 31% | +5 | N/A | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 35% | 38% | 27% | -3 | -9 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 34% | 38% | 28% | -4 | -7 | |
| Housing affordability | 29% | 38% | 33% | -9 | -7 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 32% | 41% | 26% | -9 | -9 | |
| Addressing climate change | 26% | 39% | 35% | -13 | -15 | |
| Fair wages and workplace conditions | 28% | 46% | 27% | -18 | -19 | |
| Base (n) | 1,094 | 1,094 | 1,094 | 1,033 |
- The Liberal party is most trusted to handle national security (41%, 13pts higher than Labor), manage the economy (41%, 10pts higher than Labor) and maintain international relations (37%, 5pts ahead of Labor).
- Labor are most trusted to handle fair wages and workplace conditions (46%, 18pt ahead of Liberals), address climate change (39%, 13pts ahead of Liberals), protect Australian jobs and local industries (41%, 9pts over Liberals) and increase housing affordability (38%, 9pts over Liberals).
- There is little difference in trust between the two major parties to ensure the quality of healthcare or education systems.
- The difference in trust between the parties is mostly similar to last time this was tested in October 2019.
Trust in institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
| TOTAL: Trust | Mar’21 | Change since Aug’20 | Aug’20 |
| Australia’s border security agencies | 72% | 5% | 67% |
| State & federal health authorities | 70% | 1% | 69% |
| State or territory government | 66% | 6% | 60% |
| Police, courts and the justice system | 64% | No change | 64% |
| The ABC | 59% | 1% | 58% |
| The Commonwealth public service | 57% | 1% | 56% |
| Federal parliament | 54% | -1% | 55% |
| News on commercial TV & radio | 45% | No change | 45% |
| Print media | 35% | -4% | 39% |
| TOTAL:
Trust |
TOTAL:
Don’t trust |
Have a lot of trust | Have some trust | Have little trust | Have no trust at all | Unsure | |
| Australia’s border security agencies | 72% | 24% | 28% | 44% | 18% | 6% | 3% |
| State & federal health authorities | 70% | 27% | 25% | 45% | 20% | 7% | 3% |
| State or territory government | 66% | 31% | 22% | 45% | 21% | 10% | 2% |
| Police, courts and the justice system | 64% | 34% | 21% | 43% | 24% | 10% | 2% |
| The ABC | 59% | 36% | 21% | 38% | 24% | 13% | 5% |
| The Commonwealth public service | 57% | 38% | 12% | 45% | 29% | 8% | 5% |
| Federal parliament | 54% | 43% | 15% | 39% | 28% | 15% | 3% |
| News on commercial TV & radio | 45% | 52% | 8% | 36% | 36% | 16% | 3% |
| Print media | 35% | 60% | 6% | 30% | 40% | 19% | 5% |
- People currently have the most trust in Australia’s border security agencies (72%) and state and federal health authorities (70%). Trust in border security agencies has seen a 5% point increase since August last year and trust in health authorities is unchanged.
- Trust in state or territory governments comes in as the third most trusted institution (66%), having increased by 6% points since last August. Trust in police, courts and the justice system follows closely behind (64%).
- 57% of people trust the Commonwealth public service, and just over half (54%) trust the federal parliament, both are consistent with levels seen last August.
- 59% trust the ABC, more than the proportion who trust commercial TV and radio news (54%). Print media is the least trusted institution with only just over a third (35%) of people trusting it.
Trust in institutions to ensure work is a safe place for women
Q. How much would you trust the following institutions to ensure work is a safe place for women?
| TOTAL:
Trust |
TOTAL:
Don’t trust |
Have a lot of trust | Have some trust | Have little trust | Have no trust at all | Unsure | |
| Public service | 50% | 42% | 14% | 37% | 30% | 11% | 8% |
| Private companies | 48% | 42% | 11% | 37% | 31% | 12% | 9% |
| Political offices | 34% | 59% | 10% | 24% | 33% | 26% | 7% |
| Sporting clubs | 40% | 51% | 10% | 29% | 35% | 17% | 9% |
| Entertainment industry | 36% | 55% | 11% | 25% | 36% | 20% | 8% |
- Overall, trust in institutions to ensure work is a safe place for women is lacking. However, there is the least trust in political offices – 59% don’t trust political offices to ensure this, and of this, nearly a third (26%) have no trust at all.
- The entertainment industry tracks only slightly ahead of political offices with 55% not trusting it to ensure work is a safe place for women.
- About half trust the public service and private companies (50% and 48% respectively) to ensure this, however of this the majority only have some trust – only 14% and 11% have a lot of trust in public service and private companies respectively.
Trust in institutions to ensure work is a safe place for women
Q. How much would you trust the following institutions to ensure work is a safe place for women?
| TOTAL: Trust | Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | ||||||||
| Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | ||||
| Public service | 50% | 56% | 45% | 52% | 55% | 44% | 51% | 57% | 53% | 40% | ||
| Private companies | 48% | 56% | 41% | 48% | 48% | 49% | 46% | 56% | 49% | 49% | ||
| Political offices | 34% | 41% | 27% | 34% | 38% | 30% | 30% | 45% | 21% | 31% | ||
| Sporting clubs | 40% | 49% | 30% | 39% | 42% | 37% | 40% | 44% | 26% | 45% | ||
| Entertainment industry | 36% | 42% | 31% | 32% | 43% | 33% | 37% | 41% | 25% | 41% | ||
| Base (n) | 1,074 | 527 | 547 | 326 | 363 | 385 | 335 | 396 | 106 | 138 | ||
- While trust in political offices is low overall, just 27% of women trust political offices to ensure work is a safe place for them.
- Compared to other voters, Greens voters are the least likely to trust political offices to ensure a safe working environment for women (21% to 30% Labor voters, 45% Coalition and 31% minor and independent party voters).
Trust in Federal Government
Q. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Federal Government?
[% of participants who answered the question]
| TOTAL:
Agree |
TOTAL:
Disagree |
Strongly agree | Somewhat agree | Somewhat disagree | Strongly disagree | |
| Regardless of who is in power, I trust the Federal Government to do what is right | 66% | 34% | 23% | 43% | 22% | 12% |
| As Australians we can always find ways to solve our country’s problems and get what we want | 84% | 16% | 29% | 55% | 13% | 3% |
| The government should do more to solve the problems facing our country | 91% | 9% | 53% | 38% | 7% | 2% |
| Total | Gender | Age Group | Federal Voting Intention | |||||||||
| TOTAL: Agree | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | Labor | TOTAL: Coalition | Greens | TOTAL: Other | |||
| Regardless of who is in power, I trust the Federal Government to do what is right | 66% | 62% | 70% | 61% | 71% | 65% | 60% | 77% | 56% | 49% | ||
| As Australians we can always find ways to solve our country’s problems and get what we want | 84% | 83% | 85% | 77% | 87% | 86% | 80% | 89% | 79% | 76% | ||
| The government should do more to solve the problems facing our country | 91% | 90% | 93% | 86% | 92% | 94% | 92% | 90% | 91% | 88% | ||
- Almost unanimously, Australians agree that the government should do more to solve the problems facing our country (91%) however there is high levels of agreement that as Australians we can always find ways to solve our country’s problems and get what we want (84%).
- Women are more likely than men to trust the Government to do what is right, regardless of who is in power (70% to 62%).
Trust in institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
| TOTAL: Trust | TOTAL: Low trust | Have a lot of trust | Have some trust | Have little trust | Have no trust at all | Unsure | |
| State & federal health authorities | 69% | 25% | 28% | 41% | 18% | 7% | 6% |
| Australia’s border security agencies | 67% | 26% | 21% | 46% | 17% | 8% | 7% |
| Police, courts and the justice system | 64% | 30% | 22% | 42% | 20% | 9% | 6% |
| State or territory government | 60% | 34% | 23% | 37% | 23% | 11% | 6% |
| The ABC | 58% | 34% | 24% | 34% | 23% | 11% | 8% |
| The Commonwealth public service | 56% | 36% | 14% | 41% | 29% | 7% | 8% |
| Federal parliament | 55% | 37% | 17% | 38% | 26% | 11% | 8% |
| News on commercial TV & radio | 45% | 49% | 10% | 35% | 35% | 14% | 6% |
| Print media | 39% | 55% | 7% | 31% | 36% | 18% | 7% |
- Participants have most trust in state & federal health authorities (69%) and Australia’s border security agencies (67%).
- News on commercial TV & radio (45%) and print media (39%) are trusted by less than half of participants.
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