Trust in various Australian institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions?
| Total Trust | Total No Trust | A lot of trust | Some trust | A little trust | No trust | Don’t know | ||
| The High Court | 72% | 19% | 33% | 39% | 13% | 6% | 10% | |
| The Reserve Bank | 67% | 24% | 23% | 44% | 17% | 7% | 10% | |
| Courts in general | 65% | 26% | 19% | 46% | 18% | 8% | 9% | |
| Charitable organisations | 61% | 30% | 18% | 43% | 22% | 8% | 9% | |
| Federal Parliament | 55% | 36% | 15% | 40% | 21% | 15% | 10% | |
| The ABC | 46% | 44% | 12% | 34% | 31% | 13% | 10% | |
| Environment groups | 45% | 46% | 11% | 34% | 28% | 18% | 9% | |
| Trade unions | 39% | 52% | 10% | 29% | 30% | 22% | 10% | |
| Business groups | 38% | 51% | 6% | 32% | 34% | 17% | 10% | |
| Religious organisations | 29% | 62% | 9% | 20% | 27% | 35% | 9% | |
| Please note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’ together. ‘Total No Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by combining ‘A little trust’ and ‘No trust’. | ||||||||
The institution in which respondents place the most trust is the High Court with 72% of respondents stating that they either have ‘a lot of trust’ or ‘some trust’ in the High Court. The High Court is followed by the Reserve Bank (67%), Courts in general (65%) and Charitable organisations (61%).
Federal parliament features below these top four, ranking 5th with 55% of respondents having either ‘a lot of trust’ or ‘some trust’, followed by the ABC which ranked in sixth place (46% total trust).
The institutions for which respondents had the most distrust were trade unions (52% no trust), business groups (51% no trust) and Religious organisations, which attracted the highest proportion of distrust (62% no trust).
Composition of Parliament
Q. Thinking about the Federal Government, which of the following scenarios would you prefer –
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Green | |
| One of the major parties having a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate | 36% | 36% | 49% | 7% |
| One of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the other having a majority in the Senate | 21% | 16% | 27% | 10% |
| One of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the Greens having the balance of power in the Senate | 16% | 22% | 4% | 63% |
| Don’t know | 28% | 26% | 21% | 19% |
Most respondents think that ‘one of the major parties having a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate’ is preferable (36%). Lib/Nat voters are the most likely to prefer this scenario (49%) and Greens voters the least likely to do so (7%). Male respondents were also more likely to prefer this scenario (40%) than female respondents (32%).
Respondents then selected ‘one of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the other having a majority in the Senate’ as their next preferred scenario (21%). Lib/Nat voters are the most likely to regard this scenario as preferable (27%).
The least favoured option amongst respondents is ‘one of the major parties having a majority in the House of Representatives and the Greens having the balance of power in the Senate’, with 16% selecting this option. Greens voters are the most likely to regard this option as the most preferable (63%).
Pokies Legislation
Q. The Federal Government has proposed gambling reforms which include “pre-commitment” technology that will require pokie players to have a card registered to their name and pre-programmed to prevent them losing more than a set amount in a 24-hour period. Do you support or oppose this measure?
| 18 Apr | Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Total support | 65% | 67% | 80% | 59% | 78% |
| Total oppose | 21% | 25% | 15% | 34% | 9% |
| Strongly support | 32% | 34% | 44% | 27% | 43% |
| Support | 33% | 33% | 36% | 32% | 35% |
| Oppose | 12% | 13% | 9% | 18% | 7% |
| Strongly oppose | 9% | 12% | 6% | 16% | 2% |
| Don’t know | 13% | 9% | 6% | 7% | 12% |
The strong support for the Government’s “pokies” legislation has changed little since this question was last asked in April. 67% support (up 2%) and 21% oppose (up 4%) the proposal.
Voters of all parties support the proposed legislation – although support from Liberal/National voters was somewhat lower at 59%.
Support is strongest from younger respondents – 73% of those aged under 35 support the proposal compared to 66% of those aged 35-54 and 61% of those aged 55+.
Federal politics – voting intention
Q. If a Federal Election was held today to which party will you probably give your first preference vote? If not sure, which party are you currently leaning toward?
Q. If don’t know -Well which party are you currently leaning to?
sample size = 1,878
| First preference/leaning to | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Liberal | 47% | 46% | 46% | 46% | |
| National | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | |
| Total Lib/Nat | 43.6 | 50% | 50% | 49% | 49% |
| Labor | 38.0 | 30% | 32% | 32% | 30% |
| Greens | 11.8 | 10% | 10% | 10% | 11% |
| Other/Independent | 6.6 | 10% | 8% | 8% | 10% |
| 2PP | Election
21 Aug 10 |
4 weeks ago | 2 weeks ago | Last week | This week |
| Total Lib/Nat | 49.9% | 57% | 56% | 56% | 57% |
| Labor | 50.1% | 43% | 44% | 44% | 43% |
NB. The data in the above tables comprise 2-week averages derived the first preference/leaning to voting questions. Respondents who select ‘don’t know’ are not included in the results. The two-party preferred estimate is calculated by distributing the votes of the other parties according to their preferences at the 2010 election.
Federal Election
Q. Do you think the Labor Government should run its full term until 2013 when the next Federal election is due or should a new election be held now?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Should run to 2013 | 40% | 82% | 11% | 80% |
| Should hold election now | 48% | 9% | 84% | 13% |
| Don’t know | 12% | 9% | 5% | 7% |
40% think that the Labor Government should run its full term and 48% think there should be an election held now.
Opinions closely follow voting preference – 82% of Labor voters and 80% of Greens voters think the Government should run its full term while 84% of Liberal/National voters want an election now.
Manufacturing Industry Inquiry
Q. Do you think the Government needs to hold an inquiry into the future of Australia’s manufacturing industry?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| Yes | 49% | 45% | 55% | 48% |
| No | 19% | 22% | 17% | 27% |
| Don’t know | 32% | 33% | 28% | 25% |
49% agree that the Government needs to hold an inquiry into the future of Australia’s manufacturing industry. Support for an inquiry is highest among Liberal/National voters (55%) and people aged 55+ (57%).
Government Decisions and Policies
Q. Thinking about what the Labor Government has done over the last few years, do you approve or disapprove of the following Government actions?
| Total approve | Total disapprove | Strongly approve | Approve | Disapprove | Strongly disapprove | Don’t know | |
| Increased funding of health services | 89% | 5% | 42% | 47% | 3% | 2% | 6% |
| Increasing the age pension | 78% | 14% | 34% | 44% | 8% | 6% | 8% |
| Increasing superannuation to 12% | 75% | 13% | 28% | 47% | 9% | 4% | 12% |
| Managing the economy to keep unemployment and interest rates low | 70% | 21% | 21% | 49% | 12% | 9% | 10% |
| Spending on new school buildings | 68% | 24% | 19% | 49% | 15% | 9% | 8% |
| Introducing a national disability insurance scheme | 63% | 13% | 18% | 45% | 9% | 4% | 24% |
| Stimulus spending to tackle the GFC | 61% | 28% | 21% | 40% | 15% | 13% | 11% |
| Paid parental leave | 60% | 30% | 19% | 41% | 17% | 13% | 10% |
| Introducing a tax on large profits of mining companies | 58% | 29% | 27% | 31% | 16% | 13% | 13% |
| Building the NBN (National Broadband Network) | 54% | 34% | 19% | 35% | 17% | 17% | 12% |
| Stopping live cattle exports until welfare concerns were addressed | 53% | 34% | 24% | 29% | 17% | 17% | 12% |
| Abolished WorkChoices | 51% | 33% | 23% | 28% | 21% | 12% | 16% |
| Sending asylum seekers to Malaysia | 39% | 45% | 17% | 22% | 20% | 25% | 16% |
| Introducing a carbon tax to tackle climate change | 33% | 53% | 15% | 18% | 14% | 39% | 14% |
Government decisions and policies with highest approval were increased funding of health services (89% approve), increasing the age pension (78%) and increasing superannuation to 12% (75%).
Only two of the actions listed received less than majority approval – sending asylum seekers to Malaysia was 39% approve/45% disapprove and introducing a carbon tax to tackle climate change was 33% approve/53% disapprove.
Labor voters showed majority approval of all decisions and policies, Greens voters showed majority approval for all except sending asylum seekers to Malaysia (21% approve/63% disapprove).
Liberal/National voters approved of half the items listed – increased funding of health services (89% approve), increasing the age pension (79%), increasing superannuation to 12% (71%), managing the economy to keep unemployment and interest rates low (54%), spending on new school buildings (54%), introducing a national disability insurance scheme (60%) and paid parental leave (52%).
Awareness of Changes to Health System
Q. How much have you read and heard about the recent Federal Government changes concerning funding and delivery of health services?
| Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
| A lot | 8% | 10% | 8% | 16% |
| Something | 21% | 22% | 24% | 19% |
| A little | 36% | 38% | 37% | 32% |
| Nothing | 28% | 25% | 28% | 30% |
| Don’t know | 7% | 5% | 4% | 3% |
Only 29% say they have heard a lot or something about the recent Federal Government changes concerning funding and delivery of health services, 36% say they have heard a little and 28% have heard nothing.
Those most likely to have heard a lot/something were aged 55+ (39%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Download this weeks ReportEssential Report
Two Party Preferred: 14 May 2019
In this week's report:
Essential Tags
Recent Comments
