Trust in Institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
| Total
trust |
A lot of trust | Some trust | A little trust | No trust | Don’t know | % change | Total trust Oct 15 | Total trust Sep 16 | Total trust Oct 17 | |||
| Federal police | 70% | 31% | 39% | 18% | 7% | 5% | -1 | 67% | 63% | 71% | ||
| State police | 67% | 30% | 37% | 22% | 8% | 3% | – | 68% | 63% | 67% | ||
| The High Court | 61% | 24% | 37% | 22% | 11% | 6% | – | 60% | 57% | 61% | ||
| The ABC | 54% | 16% | 38% | 26% | 12% | 8% | +2 | 55% | 53% | 52% | ||
| The Reserve Bank | 50% | 15% | 35% | 28% | 125% | 8% | +1 | 51% | 47% | 49% | ||
| Charitable organisations | 47% | 12% | 35% | 36% | 12% | 4% | +1 | 49% | 43% | 46% | ||
| Environment groups | 42% | 10% | 32% | 33% | 18% | 6% | – | 42% | 39% | 42% | ||
| Your local council | 42% | 9% | 33% | 37% | 18% | 4% | +4 | 40% | 36% | 38% | ||
| The Commonwealth Public Service | 39% | 7% | 32% | 36% | 16% | 9% | +1 | 38% | 36% | 38% | ||
| State Parliament | 31% | 7% | 24% | 33% | 31% | 6% | – | 32% | 26% | 31% | ||
| Business groups | 29% | 3% | 26% | 43% | 19% | 9% | +1 | 30% | 27% | 28% | ||
| Federal Parliament | 28% | 6% | 22% | 32% | 35% | 6% | -2 | 32% | 26% | 30% | ||
| Religious organisations | 28% | 6% | 22% | 26% | 39% | 7% | +2 | 30% | 26% | 26% | ||
| Trade unions | 25% | 5% | 20% | 35% | 31% | 9% | – | 27% | 25% | 25% | ||
| Political parties | 15% | 2% | 13% | 35% | 44% | 6% | -3 | 16% | 14% | 18% |
Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’
Overall, trust in institutions has changed little since this question was asked in October, 2017.
Respondents had most trust in the Federal police (70%), State police (67%), the High Court (61%), the ABC (54%) and the Reserve Bank (50%). They had least trust in political parties (15%), trade unions (25%), religious organisations (28%), Federal Parliament (28%) and business groups (29%).
The main change since the last poll were for local council (up 4%) and political parties (down 3%).
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Don’t know | Differ-ence | Differ-ence
Jan 2018 |
||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 42% | 25% | 33% | +17 | +18 | |
| Management of the economy | 39% | 33% | 28% | +6 | +10 | |
| Controlling interest rates | 35% | 29% | 36% | +6 | +4 | |
| Political leadership | 34% | 32% | 34% | +2 | -2 | |
| Managing population growth | 32% | 30% | 38% | +2 | +3 | |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 30% | 31% | 39% | -1 | +1 | |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 31% | 33% | 36% | -2 | +1 | |
| Addressing climate change | 26% | 33% | 41% | -7 | -14 | |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 30% | 38% | 32% | -8 | -11 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 30% | 39% | 31% | -9 | -11 | |
| Housing affordability | 26% | 35% | 39% | -9 | -12 | |
| Protecting the environment | 26% | 35% | 39% | -9 | -12 | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 30% | 40% | 30% | -10 | -11 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 28% | 38% | 33% | -10 | -10 | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 28% | 40% | 32% | -12 | -13 |
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+17, down 1 since January), management of the economy (+6, down 4) and controlling interest rates (+6, up 2).
The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (+12, down 1), protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries (+10, no change) and ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system (+10, down 1).
Since this question was asked in January, the Labor Party has improved its position against the Liberal Party on management of the economy (up 4) while losing ground on addressing climate change (down 7).
Party trust to manage fair tax system
Q. Which party would you trust most to manage a fair tax system?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | Mar 2018 | |||
| Labor | 32% | 74% | 9% | 36% | 16% | 26% | ||
| Liberal-National | 32% | 4% | 72% | 13% | 29% | 28% | ||
| No difference | 22% | 13% | 12% | 36% | 45% | 31% | ||
| Don’t know | 15% | 9% | 6% | 15% | 10% | 15% |
Respondents were evenly divided on which party they would trust most to manage a fair tax system. 32% favoured the Labor Party and 32% favoured the Liberal and National parties. 22% thought there was no difference.
Those earning less than $1,500 pw trust Labor more (34% Labor/27% Liberal-National), and those earning more than $1,500 pw trust the Liberals a little more (33% Labor/37% Liberal-National).
Party trust
Who do you trust most to manage a fair tax system?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote Other | ||
| Labor | 26% | 63% | 4% | 38% | 12% | |
| Liberal-National | 28% | 2% | 66% | 4% | 21% | |
| No difference | 31% | 20% | 21% | 42% | 58% | |
| Don’t know | 15% | 15% | 95 | 16% | 9% |
There was little difference in between the parties in terms of who would be most trusted to manage a fair tax system.
28% favoured the Liberal National parties, 26% Labor and 31% said their was no difference.
53% of over 65’s said they would trust Liberal-National most.
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Don’t know | Differ-ence | Differ-ence
Jun2017 |
||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 42% | 24% | 35% | +18 | +20 | |
| Management of the economy | 40% | 30% | 29% | +10 | +15 | |
| Controlling interest rates | 34% | 30% | 36% | +4 | +10 | |
| Managing population growth | 30% | 27% | 43% | +3 | +6 | |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 32% | 31% | 37% | +1 | +1 | |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 31% | 30% | 39% | +1 | -5 | |
| Political leadership | 31% | 33% | 37% | -2 | +8 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 28% | 38% | 34% | -10 | -13 | |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 28% | 39% | 34% | -11 | -10 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 29% | 40% | 32% | -11 | -11 | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 28% | 39% | 33% | -11 | -11 | |
| Housing affordability | 24% | 36% | 40% | -12 | -12 | |
| Protecting the environment | 24% | 36% | 41% | -12 | -14 | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 27% | 40% | 34% | -13 | -14 | |
| Addressing climate change | 22% | 36% | 43% | -14 | -16 |
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+18, down 2 since June) and management of the economy (+10, down 5).
The Labor Party is trusted more to handle addressing climate change (+14, down 2), a fair industrial relations system (+13, down 1), protecting the environment (+12, down 2) and housing affordability (+12, no change).
Since this question was asked in June, the Labor Party has improved its position against the Liberal Party on political leadership (up 10), controlling interest rates (up 6) and management of the economy (up 5).
Trust in Federal Government
Q. How much trust do you have in the Federal Government to do what is right for Australia?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | ||
| A lot of trust | 8% | 6% | 17% | 2% | 2% | |
| Some trust | 34% | 34% | 49% | 20% | 22% | |
| Not much trust | 32% | 37% | 25% | 45% | 34% | |
| No trust at all | 21% | 18% | 8% | 28% | 42% | |
| Don’t know | 5% | 5% | 1% | 5% | – |
42% have a lot or some trust in the Government to do what is right for Australia and 53% have not much or no trust.
Those least likely to trust the Government were Greens voters (73% not much/no trust) and other voters (76%).
Those most likely to trust the Government were LNP voters (66% trust) and university educated (58%).
Party trust
Q. Which party would you trust more to do the following?
| Liberal | Labor | No difference | Don’t know | |
| Reduce power prices | 24% | 25% | 37% | 14% |
| Ensure a reliable power supply | 24% | 24% | 38% | 14% |
| Reduce carbon emissions from power plants | 17% | 29% | 39% | 16% |
| Develop a modern power system that is clean and smart | 21% | 26% | 38% | 15% |
| Encourage investment in renewable energy | 20% | 30% | 34% | 16% |
| Stand up to the big power companies | 21% | 27% | 37% | 15% |
More than half either think there is no difference between the parties or don’t know who they would trust more to handle any of these energy issues.
For those who made a choice, the Labor Party was more trusted to reduce carbon emissions from power plants (+12%), encourage investment in renewable energy (+10%), stand up to the big power companies (+6%) and develop a modern power system that is clean and smart (+5%).
There was no significant difference in preference for either party on reducing power prices or ensuring a reliable power supply.
Trust in Institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
| Total
trust |
A lot of trust | Some trust | A little trust | No trust | Don’t know | % change | Total trust Oct 15 | Total trust Sep 16 | Total trust Jan 17 | |||
| Federal police | 71% | 27% | 44% | 19% | 7% | 3% | +2 | 67% | 63% | 69% | ||
| State police | 67% | 24% | 43% | 21% | 9% | 2% | – | 68% | 63% | 67% | ||
| The High Court | 61% | 22% | 39% | 25% | 10% | 4% | -1 | 60% | 57% | 62% | ||
| The ABC | 52% | 17% | 35% | 29% | 12% | 7% | -1 | 55% | 53% | 53% | ||
| The Reserve Bank | 49% | 13% | 36% | 32% | 13% | 7% | -2 | 51% | 47% | 51% | ||
| Charitable organisations | 46% | 8% | 38% | 38% | 12% | 4% | +1 | 49% | 43% | 45% | ||
| Environment groups | 42% | 9% | 33% | 35% | 19% | 5% | +3 | 42% | 39% | 39% | ||
| Your local council | 38% | 7% | 31% | 38% | 21% | 4% | – | 40% | 36% | 38% | ||
| The Commonwealth Public Service | 38% | 6% | 32% | 38% | 16% | 9% | +2 | 38% | 36% | 36% | ||
| State Parliament | 31% | 4% | 27% | 35% | 29% | 4% | – | 32% | 26% | 31% | ||
| Federal Parliament | 30% | 5% | 25% | 35% | 32% | 4% | – | 32% | 26% | 30% | ||
| Business groups | 28% | 4% | 24% | 46% | 20% | 6% | +1 | 30% | 27% | 27% | ||
| Religious organisations | 26% | 6% | 20% | 31% | 39% | 4% | -2 | 30% | 26% | 28% | ||
| Trade unions | 25% | 4% | 21% | 34% | 33% | 7% | -2 | 27% | 25% | 27% | ||
| Political parties | 18% | 3% | 15% | 34% | 45% | 3% | +1 | 16% | 14% | 17% |
Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’
Overall, trust in institutions j=has changed little since this question was asked in January.
Respondents had most trust in the Federal police (71%), State police (67%), the High Court (61%), the ABC (52%) and the Reserve Bank (49%). They had least trust in political parties (17%), business groups (27%), trade unions (27%) and religious organisations (28%).
The main change since the last poll were for environment groups (up 3%).
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