Trust in organisations and institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
Total trust 26 Sep 11 |
Total trust 12 Jun 12 |
Total trust 22 Oct 12 |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
A little trust |
No trust |
Don’t know |
% change |
|
The High Court |
72% |
60% |
63% |
26% |
37% |
21% |
10% |
6% |
+3 |
The ABC |
46% |
54% |
59% |
20% |
39% |
26% |
8% |
6% |
+5 |
The Reserve Bank |
67% |
49% |
53% |
16% |
37% |
28% |
12% |
8% |
+4 |
Charitable organisations |
61% |
50% |
53% |
9% |
44% |
33% |
10% |
5% |
+3 |
Environment groups |
45% |
32% |
36% |
8% |
28% |
35% |
24% |
6% |
+4 |
The Commonwealth Public Service |
49%* |
30% |
33% |
6% |
27% |
41% |
16% |
10% |
+3 |
Your local council |
na |
na |
32% |
4% |
28% |
39% |
22% |
6% |
na |
Religious organisations |
29% |
27% |
31% |
7% |
24% |
28% |
35% |
6% |
+4 |
Newspapers |
na |
26% |
31% |
4% |
27% |
45% |
20% |
4% |
+5 |
Online news media |
na |
23% |
28% |
4% |
24% |
45% |
20% |
6% |
+5 |
TV news media |
na |
21% |
26% |
5% |
21% |
44% |
26% |
4% |
+5 |
Federal Parliament |
55% |
22% |
26% |
4% |
22% |
37% |
32% |
5% |
+4 |
State Parliament |
na |
na |
25% |
4% |
21% |
37% |
33% |
5% |
na |
Business groups |
38% |
22% |
25% |
3% |
22% |
45% |
21% |
9% |
+3 |
Trade unions |
39% |
22% |
23% |
5% |
18% |
32% |
36% |
9% |
+1 |
Political parties |
na |
12% |
16% |
2% |
14% |
36% |
42% |
6% |
+4 |
Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’.
* This Commonwealth Public Service figure is from a question asked in 6 Feb 12.
Overall, there have been small increases in trust across all organisations since this question was last asked in June. However, there has been no significant change in the rankings.
Respondents had most trust in the High Court (63%), the ABC (59%), charitable organisations (53%) and the Reserve Bank (53%). They had least trust in political parties (16%), trade unions (23%), business groups (25%) State Parliaments (25%), Federal Parliament (26%) and TV news media (26%).
Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in Federal Parliament (40%), the High Court (67%), the ABC (68%), the Reserve Bank (61%), the Commonwealth Public Service (42%), trade unions (41%), environment groups (48%) and local councils (39%).
Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had more trust in religious organisations (37%) and business groups (32%) but less trust in Federal Parliament (21%), Commonwealth Public Service (28%), trade unions (14%) and environment groups (27%).

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- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
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- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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