Trust in newspapers
Q. How much trust do you have in what you read in the following newspapers?
|
Total a lot/some |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
Not much trust |
No trust at all |
Don’t know |
Total a lot/some Jul 2011 |
Total a lot/some Jun 2012 |
Total a lot/some Jan 2013 |
Total a lot/some Jun 2015 |
|||
|
The Australian |
63% |
12% |
51% |
23% |
9% |
5% |
69% |
60% |
65% |
58% |
||
|
The Telegraph (NSW only) |
56% |
10% |
46% |
27% |
14% |
4% |
52% |
49% |
48% |
46% |
||
|
Sydney Morning Herald (NSW only) |
66% |
11% |
55% |
22% |
7% |
4% |
74% |
69% |
71% |
70% |
||
|
The Age (Victoria only) |
66% |
15% |
51% |
18% |
11% |
5% |
79% |
76% |
71% |
66% |
||
|
Herald Sun (Victoria only) |
57% |
10% |
47% |
24% |
15% |
4% |
54% |
51% |
50% |
48% |
||
|
Courier Mail (Queensland only) |
47% |
6% |
41% |
34% |
16% |
2% |
65% |
51% |
57% |
48% |
* Note : Percentages based only on respondents who had read each newspaper.
Overall, among those who have read them, the most trusted newspapers were the SMH (66% a lot/some trust), The Age (66%) and The Australian (63%). The Courier Mail (47%) was the least trusted.
Since this question was asked in 2015, there have been increases in trust for The Telegraph (up 10%), the HeraldSun (up 9%) and The Australian (up 5%).
Trust most to handle the economy
Q. Who would you trust most to handle Australia’s economy – the Treasurer Scott Morrison or the Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other/ Indep- endent |
Nov 2015 |
|||
|
Scott Morrison |
26% |
9% |
52% |
8% |
16% |
27% |
||
|
Chris Bowen |
19% |
34% |
10% |
29% |
13% |
18% |
||
|
Don’t know |
55% |
57% |
38% |
64% |
71% |
56% |
26% have more trust in Scott Morrison to handle Australia’s economy and 19% have more trust in Chris Bowen. 55% don’t know who they would trust more. This represents little change since November.
Party Trust to Handle Issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Liberal |
Labor |
Greens |
Don’t know |
Difference |
Difference Oct 2015 |
|||
|
Management of the economy |
42% |
21% |
5% |
31% |
+21 |
+18 |
||
|
Ensuring a quality education for all children |
30% |
31% |
8% |
31% |
-1 |
-7 |
||
|
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
30% |
30% |
8% |
32% |
– |
-5 |
||
|
Protecting the environment |
19% |
16% |
37% |
29% |
-21 |
-21 |
||
|
A fair industrial relations system |
28% |
34% |
6% |
32% |
-6 |
-11 |
||
|
Political leadership |
40% |
18% |
7% |
35% |
+22 |
+18 |
||
|
Addressing climate change |
21% |
18% |
30% |
32% |
-12 |
-12 |
||
|
Controlling interest rates |
36% |
18% |
5% |
40% |
+18 |
+14 |
||
|
Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
28% |
33% |
6% |
32% |
-5 |
-7 |
||
|
Ensuring a quality water supply |
24% |
19% |
23% |
34% |
+5 |
+5 |
||
|
Housing affordability |
26% |
28% |
8% |
39% |
-2 |
-7 |
||
|
Ensuring a fair taxation system |
30% |
25% |
7% |
37% |
+5 |
– |
||
|
Security and the war on terrorism |
41% |
18% |
5% |
36% |
+23 |
+22 |
||
|
Treatment of asylum seekers |
31% |
16% |
17% |
36% |
+15 |
+7 |
||
|
Managing population growth |
31% |
18% |
9% |
42% |
+13 |
+13 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Labor % from Liberal % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Liberal minus Greens.
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+23), political leadership (+22), management of the economy (+21) and controlling interest rates (+18). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (-6) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-5).
Main changes since this question was asked in October have been an improvements for the Liberal Party on treatment of asylum seekers (up 8), ensuring a quality education (up 6), the health system (up 5), the industrial relations system (up 5) and the tax system (up 5).
Trust most to handle the economy
Q. Who would you trust most to handle Australia’s economy – the Treasurer Scott Morrison or the Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen?
|
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
Vote other/ Indep- endent |
Joe Hockey May 2015 |
|||
|
Scott Morrison |
27% |
9% |
53% |
14% |
20% |
29% |
||
|
Chris Bowen |
18% |
41% |
4% |
30% |
6% |
23% |
||
|
Don’t know |
56% |
50% |
43% |
56% |
74% |
47% |
27% have more trust in Scott Morrison to handle Australia’s economy and 18% have more trust in Chris Bowen. 56% don’t know who they would trust more.
These results show a slightly increased preference for the Treasurer over the Shadow Treasurer since this question was asked in May when Joe Hockey was treasurer.
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 Jun 15 |
|||
|
State police |
68% |
26% |
42% |
21% |
6% |
5% |
+2 |
– |
– |
– |
66% |
||
|
Federal police |
67% |
26% |
41% |
20% |
6% |
6% |
-1 |
– |
– |
– |
68% |
||
|
The High Court |
60% |
24% |
36% |
24% |
9% |
7% |
-1 |
60% |
74% |
57% |
61% |
||
|
The ABC |
55% |
16% |
39% |
26% |
11% |
7% |
-1 |
54% |
70% |
54% |
56% |
||
|
The Reserve Bank |
51% |
17% |
34% |
30% |
10% |
8% |
-5 |
49% |
64% |
52% |
56% |
||
|
Charitable organisations |
49% |
8% |
41% |
37% |
10% |
5% |
+3 |
50% |
52% |
45% |
46% |
||
|
Environment groups |
42% |
9% |
33% |
33% |
18% |
7% |
+2 |
32% |
41% |
31% |
40% |
||
|
Your local council |
40% |
5% |
35% |
36% |
19% |
6% |
+1 |
– |
34% |
33% |
39% |
||
|
The Commonwealth Public Service |
38% |
6% |
32% |
38% |
14% |
10% |
+3 |
30% |
36% |
31% |
35% |
||
|
State Parliament |
32% |
5% |
27% |
36% |
24% |
7% |
– |
– |
30% |
24% |
32% |
||
|
Federal Parliament |
32% |
5% |
27% |
35% |
27% |
6% |
+1 |
22% |
34% |
25% |
31% |
||
|
Religious organisations |
30% |
7% |
23% |
30% |
33% |
7% |
+5 |
27% |
27% |
26% |
25% |
||
|
Business groups |
30% |
3% |
27% |
39% |
20% |
11% |
+2 |
22% |
26% |
22% |
28% |
||
|
Trade unions |
27% |
5% |
22% |
33% |
31% |
9% |
+1 |
22% |
25% |
22% |
26% |
||
|
Political parties |
19% |
3% |
16% |
36% |
39% |
7% |
+3 |
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 changed little since this question was asked in June.
Respondents had most trust in the State police (68%), Federal police (67%), the High Court (60%), the ABC (55%) and the Reserve Bank (51%). They had least trust in political parties (19%), trade unions (27%), business groups (30%) and religious organisations (30%).
The main changes since the last poll were for the Reserve Bank (down 5% to 51%) and religious organisations (up 5% to 30%). Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in the ABC (64%) and trade unions (39%).
Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had a little more trust in the High Court (67%), the Reserve Bank (62%), religious organisations (39%), Federal Parliament (42%), State Parliament (39%), business groups (40%), State police (77%) and Federal police (75%).
Trust in organisations to store data
Q. Under new national security laws phone and internet records of all Australians will be held for two years. 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 a lot/some trust |
Total little/no trust |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
Little trust |
No trust |
Don’t know |
Total a lot/some trust Nov 2014 |
|||
|
Security agencies such as the Australian Federal Police, local police and ASIO |
49% |
46% |
16% |
33% |
24% |
22% |
5% |
53% |
||
|
The Government |
40% |
55% |
8% |
32% |
28% |
27% |
5% |
42% |
||
|
Telecommunications companies and internet service providers |
31% |
64% |
5% |
26% |
32% |
32% |
5% |
32% |
||
|
Other private companies |
20% |
73% |
3% |
17% |
33% |
40% |
7% |
20% |
49% have a lot or some trust in security agencies to store personal data safely and in a way that would prevent abuse – although only 16% have a lot of trust.
A majority have little or no trust in the Government (55%), telecommunications companies and internet service providers (64%) and other private companies (73%) to safely store personal data.
Overall, trust has declined a little since this question was asked last year.
Party Trust to Handle Issues
Q: Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
| Liberal | Labor | Greens | Don’t know | Difference | Difference
Sep 2015 |
|||
| Management of the economy | 41% | 23% | 4% | 32% | +18 | +16 | ||
| Ensuring a quality education for all children | 28% | 35% | 7% | 30% | -7 | -4 | ||
| Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system | 28% | 33% | 8% | 30% | -5 | -2 | ||
| Protecting the environment | 18% | 16% | 39% | 26% | -21 | -20 | ||
| A fair industrial relations system | 27% | 38% | 5% | 30% | -11 | -8 | ||
| Political leadership | 38% | 20% | 7% | 36% | +18 | +9 | ||
| Addressing climate change | 19% | 23% | 31% | 27% | -12 | -12 | ||
| Controlling interest rates | 36% | 22% | 4% | 37% | +14 | +16 | ||
| Australian jobs and protection of local industries | 28% | 35% | 6% | 31% | -7 | -5 | ||
| Ensuring a quality water supply | 25% | 20% | 24% | 31% | +5 | +7 | ||
| Housing affordability | 24% | 31% | 7% | 38% | -7 | – | ||
| Ensuring a fair taxation system | 31% | 31% | 6% | 32% | – | +4 | ||
| Security and the war on terrorism | 41% | 19% | 5% | 36% | +22 | +20 | ||
| Treatment of asylum seekers | 28% | 21% | 17% | 34% | +7 | +12 | ||
| Managing population growth | 32% | 19% | 9% | 40% | +13 | +11 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Labor % from Liberal % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Liberal minus Greens.
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+22), management of the economy (+18), political leadership (+18) and controlling interest rates (+14). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (-11) and Australian jobs, protection of local industries (-7), ensuring a quality education (-7) and housing affordability (-7).
Main changes since this question was asked last month have been an improvement for the Liberal Party on political leadership (up net 9 points), and improvement for the Labor Party on housing affordability (up 7) and treatment of asylum seekers (up 5).
Party Trust to Handle Issues
Q. Which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?
|
Liberal |
Labor |
Greens |
Don’t know |
Difference |
Difference Feb 2015 |
|||
|
Management of the economy |
40% |
24% |
5% |
31% |
+16 |
+17 |
||
|
Ensuring a quality education for all children |
29% |
33% |
8% |
31% |
-4 |
-10 |
||
|
Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system |
29% |
31% |
8% |
31% |
-2 |
-10 |
||
|
Protecting the environment |
20% |
15% |
40% |
25% |
-20 |
-25 |
||
|
A fair industrial relations system |
27% |
35% |
7% |
31% |
-8 |
-10 |
||
|
Political leadership |
32% |
23% |
8% |
36% |
+9 |
+7 |
||
|
Addressing climate change |
21% |
19% |
33% |
27% |
-12 |
-17 |
||
|
Controlling interest rates |
37% |
21% |
5% |
37% |
+16 |
+13 |
||
|
Australian jobs and protection of local industries |
29% |
34% |
6% |
31% |
-5 |
-9 |
||
|
Ensuring a quality water supply |
27% |
20% |
21% |
32% |
+7 |
+6 |
||
|
Housing affordability |
27% |
27% |
7% |
38% |
– |
-6 |
||
|
Ensuring a fair taxation system |
32% |
28% |
7% |
33% |
+4 |
-2 |
||
|
Security and the war on terrorism |
40% |
20% |
5% |
34% |
+20 |
+19 |
||
|
Treatment of asylum seekers |
31% |
19% |
19% |
31% |
+12 |
+13 |
||
|
Managing population growth |
31% |
20% |
8% |
41% |
+11 |
+12 |
Note – Differences are calculated by subtracting Labor % from Liberal % – except for the two issues on which the Greens lead in which case it is Liberal minus Greens.
The Liberal Party is trusted more to handle security and the war on terrorism (+20), management of the economy (+16), controlling interest rates (+16) and treatment of asylum seekers (+12). The Labor Party is trusted more to handle a fair industrial relations system (-8) and Australian jobs and protection of local industries (-5).
Main changes since this question was asked in February have been an improvement for the Liberal Party on the health system (up net 8 points), education (up 6), housing affordability (up 6) and taxation (up 6).
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