Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Don’t know | NET | NET
Aug 2016 |
||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 39% | 22% | 39% | +17 | +18 | |
| Management of the economy | 41% | 27% | 32% | +14 | +15 | |
| Controlling interest rates | 33% | 26% | 41% | +7 | +12 | |
| Managing population growth | 32% | 25% | 42% | +7 | +10 | |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 34% | 28% | 39% | +6 | +6 | |
| Political leadership | 33% | 27% | 40% | +6 | +9 | |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 32% | 33% | 35% | -1 | -4 | |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 27% | 30% | 43% | -3 | – | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 30% | 37% | 33% | -7 | -8 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 28% | 37% | 35% | -9 | -8 | |
| Housing affordability | 25% | 34% | 40% | -9 | -10 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 28% | 39% | 33% | -11 | -8 | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 28% | 40% | 32% | -12 | -8 | |
| Addressing climate change | 23% | 37% | 40% | -14 | -10 | |
| Protecting the environment | 23% | 37% | 40% | -14 | -11 |
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+17) and management of the economy (+14).
The Labor Party is trusted more to handle protecting the environment (-14), addressing climate change (-14), the health system (-12) and education (-11).
Since this question was asked in August, the Labor Party has improved its position against the Liberal Party on controlling interest rates (up 5), climate change (up 4) and the health system (up 4).
Leader trust to handle issues
Q. Which leader – Malcolm Turnbull or Bill Shorten – would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Malcolm Turnbull | Bill Shorten | Don’t know | Difference | Difference May 2016 | |||
| Regulating the banking and finance sector | 33% | 29% | 38% | +4 | +6 | ||
| Supporting Australia’s manufacturing industries | 30% | 32% | 37% | -2 | -1 | ||
| Addressing climate change | 26% | 30% | 44% | -4 | -8 | ||
| Protecting the Great Barrier Reef | 23% | 29% | 48% | -6 | -6 | ||
| Funding hospitals | 29% | 36% | 35% | -7 | -8 | ||
| Making housing more affordable for first home buyers | 23% | 33% | 44% | -10 | -9 | ||
| Ensuring big companies pay their share of tax | 27% | 37% | 36% | -10 | -6 | ||
| Looking after the needs of pensioners | 22% | 38% | 40% | -16 | -14 | ||
| Funding public schools | 24% | 40% | 36% | -16 | -16 | ||
| Maintaining workers’ wages and conditions | 23% | 44% | 34% | -21 | -22 |
Bill Shorten is trusted more for maintaining workers’ wages and conditions (+21), funding public schools (+16) and looking after the needs of pensioners (+16). Since May, the main changes have been a 4% shift to Malcolm Turnbull on addressing climate change and a 4% shift to Bill Shorten on ensuring big companies pay their share of tax.
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
Jun 12 |
Total trust
Mar 13 |
Total trust
Jul 14 |
Total trust
Oct 15 |
|||
| State police | 63% | 22% | 41% | 24% | 10% | 3% | -5 | – | – | – | 68% | ||
| Federal police | 63% | 23% | 40% | 25% | 8% | 4% | -4 | – | – | – | 67% | ||
| The High Court | 57% | 20% | 37% | 25% | 13% | 4% | -3 | 60% | 74% | 57% | 60% | ||
| The ABC | 53% | 16% | 37% | 27% | 13% | 8% | -2 | 54% | 70% | 54% | 55% | ||
| The Reserve Bank | 47% | 14% | 33% | 31% | 14% | 8% | -4 | 49% | 64% | 52% | 51% | ||
| Charitable organisations | 43% | 8% | 37% | 37% | 14% | 4% | -6 | 50% | 52% | 45% | 49% | ||
| Environment groups | 39% | 8% | 31% | 33% | 22% | 6% | -3 | 32% | 41% | 31% | 42% | ||
| Your local council | 36% | 6% | 30% | 35% | 24% | 4% | -4 | – | 34% | 33% | 40% | ||
| The Commonwealth Public Service | 36% | 5% | 31% | 38% | 17% | 9% | -2 | 30% | 36% | 31% | 38% | ||
| Business groups | 27% | 2% | 25% | 38% | 27% | 7% | -3 | 22% | 26% | 22% | 30% | ||
| State Parliament | 26% | 3% | 23% | 34% | 35% | 5% | -6 | – | 30% | 24% | 32% | ||
| Federal Parliament | 26% | 3% | 23% | 34% | 35% | 5% | -6 | 22% | 34% | 25% | 32% | ||
| Religious organisations | 26% | 5% | 21% | 27% | 40% | 6% | -4 | 27% | 27% | 26% | 30% | ||
| Trade unions | 25% | 3% | 22% | 31% | 35% | 8% | -2 | 22% | 25% | 22% | 27% | ||
| Political parties | 14% | 1% | 13% | 32% | 49% | 4% | -2 | 12% | 12% | 13% | 16% |
Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’
Overall trust in institutions has decreased a little since this question was asked last October.
Respondents had most trust in the State police (63%), Federal police (63%), the High Court (57%), the ABC (53%) and the Reserve Bank (47%). They had least trust in political parties (14%), trade unions (25%) religious organisations (26%) and business groups (27%).
The main changes since the last poll were for State Parliament, Federal Parliament and charitable organisations (all down 6%).
Trust in handling information
Q. How much trust do you have in the following organisations to store your personal data safely and in a way that would prevent abuse?
| Total trust | A lot of trust | Some trust | Little trust | No trust | Don’t know | ||
| Security agencies such as the Australian Federal Police, local police and ASIO | 51% | 19% | 32% | 28% | 16% | 5% | |
| The Australian Bureau of Statistics | 46% | 12% | 34% | 29% | 20% | 5% | |
| Banks | 45% | 12% | 33% | 32% | 20% | 4% | |
| Federal Government departments | 37% | 8% | 29% | 32% | 26% | 5% | |
| Telecommunications companies and internet service providers | 30% | 4% | 26% | 37% | 28% | 5% | |
| Online shopping websites | 30% | 4% | 26% | 37% | 29% | 4% | |
| Social media sites e.g. Facebook | 20% | 3% | 17% | 32% | 44% | 5% |
A majority (51%) trust security agencies to store personal information. 46% trust the ABS and 45% trust banks. Internet based entities are trusted by only 30% or less.
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Don’t know | NET | NET
Jun 2016 |
||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 39% | 21% | 40% | +18 | +18 | |
| Management of the economy | 41% | 26% | 34% | +15 | +12 | |
| Controlling interest rates | 35% | 23% | 42% | +12 | +12 | |
| Managing population growth | 33% | 23% | 44% | +10 | +8 | |
| Political leadership | 35% | 26% | 39% | +9 | +8 | |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 32% | 26% | 41% | +6 | +4 | |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 28% | 28% | 43% | – | -1 | |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 30% | 34% | 36% | -4 | -5 | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 30% | 38% | 32% | -8 | -11 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 29% | 37% | 34% | -8 | -12 | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 30% | 38% | 32% | -8 | -13 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 29% | 37% | 34% | -8 | -14 | |
| Housing affordability | 25% | 35% | 40% | -10 | -8 | |
| Addressing climate change | 25% | 35% | 40% | -10 | -10 | |
| Protecting the environment | 24% | 35% | 40% | -11 | -12 |
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+18), management of the economy (+15) and controlling interest rates (+12).
The Labor Party is trusted more to handle protecting the environment (-11), addressing climate change (-10) and housing affordability (-10).
Since this question was asked in June, The Liberal Party has improved its position against Labor on ensuring the quality of the health system (up 5) and ensuring a quality education for all children (up 6).
Trust in media
Q. How much trust did you have in the way the following media reported and commented on the Federal election campaign?
| Total a lot/some trust | Total not much/no trust | Net | A lot of trust | Some trust | Not much trust | No trust at all | Don’t know | Don’t use | ||
| ABC TV | 65% | 17% | +48 | 26% | 39% | 11% | 6% | 6% | 12% | |
| SBS TV | 61% | 15% | +46 | 21% | 40% | 11% | 4% | 7% | 18% | |
| ABC radio | 54% | 18% | +36 | 20% | 34% | 12% | 6% | 5% | 22% | |
| Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) | 45% | 25% | +20 | 11% | 34% | 19% | 6% | 7% | 22% | |
| The Australian | 37% | 25% | +12 | 8% | 29% | 18% | 7% | 6% | 30% | |
| The Age (Victoria) | 42% | 33% | +9 | 7% | 35% | 22% | 11% | 5% | 21% | |
| Courier Mail (Queensland) | 37% | 37% | – | 6% | 31% | 25% | 12% | 5% | 21% | |
| Commercial TV | 42% | 44% | -2 | 4% | 38% | 33% | 11% | 7% | 7% | |
| The Telegraph (NSW) | 35% | 39% | -4 | 10% | 25% | 25% | 14% | 7% | 20% | |
| Commercial radio | 35% | 41% | -6 | 4% | 31% | 30% | 11% | 7% | 17% | |
| Herald Sun (Victoria) | 35% | 43% | -8 | 5% | 30% | 27% | 16% | 5% | 16% |
The media most trusted for reporting and commentary on the election were ABC TV (65% trust), SBS TV (61%) and ABC radio (54%).
The most trusted newspapers were the Sydney Morning Herald (45%), The Australian (37%) and The Age (42%).
The least trusted media were the Herald Sun (43% not much or no trust), commercial TV (44%) and commercial radio (41%).
Trust in the Government’s handling of international relations
Q. How much trust do you have in Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberal Government to handle Australia’s international relations?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote other | Nov 2013 | Jun 2014 | Oct 2014 | Feb 2015 | May 2015 | |||
| Total a lot/some | 47% | 30% | 81% | 35% | 36% | 41% | 35% | 40% | 33% | 35% | ||
| Total little/no trust | 46% | 65% | 17% | 52% | 62% | 53% | 59% | 53% | 62% | 58% | ||
| A lot of trust | 12% | 5% | 28% | – | 3% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 12% | 13% | ||
| Some trust | 35% | 25% | 53% | 35% | 33% | 21% | 18% | 23% | 21% | 22% | ||
| A little trust | 24% | 28% | 16% | 32% | 27% | 18% | 16% | 18% | 22% | 20% | ||
| No trust | 22% | 37% | 1% | 20% | 35% | 35% | 43% | 35% | 40% | 38% | ||
| Don’t know | 7% | 6% | 2% | 13% | 3% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 7% |
Overall, 47% have a lot or some trust in Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberal Government to handle Australia’s international relations and 46% have a little or no trust. This represent a substantial increase in trust since a similar question was asked last May about the Tony Abbott Government.
However, most of the shift has been an increase for “some trust”. Only 12% (down 1%) have “a lot of trust” and 22% (down 26%) have no trust.
Party trust to handle issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Don’t know | NET | NET
May 2016 |
||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 39% | 21% | 40% | +18 | +23 | |
| Management of the economy | 39% | 27% | 34% | +12 | +20 | |
| Controlling interest rates | 35% | 23% | 42% | +12 | +12 | |
| Political leadership | 34% | 26% | 40% | +8 | +11 | |
| Managing population growth | 31% | 23% | 46% | +8 | +11 | |
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 32% | 28% | 40% | +4 | +8 | |
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 27% | 28% | 46% | -1 | – | |
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 30% | 35% | 35% | -5 | -8 | |
| Housing affordability | 27% | 35% | 39% | -8 | -10 | |
| Addressing climate change | 25% | 35% | 40% | -10 | -11 | |
| A fair industrial relations system | 28% | 39% | 33% | -11 | -12 | |
| Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 27% | 39% | 34% | -12 | -13 | |
| Protecting the environment | 23% | 35% | 41% | -12 | -12 | |
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 26% | 39% | 35% | -13 | -11 | |
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 26% | 40% | 34% | -14 | -11 |
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+18), management of the economy (+12) and controlling interest rates (+12).
The labor Party is trusted more to handle ensuring a quality education (+14%) and ensuring the quality of the health system (+13).
Since this question was asked last month, Labor has improved its position on management of the economy (up 8) and security and the war on terrorism (up 5).
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