Trust in institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
|
Total |
Total |
Total trust |
Total trust |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
A little trust |
No trust |
Don’t know |
% change |
|
| The High Court |
72% |
60% |
63% |
74% |
34% |
40% |
13% |
6% |
8% |
+11 |
| The ABC |
46% |
54% |
59% |
70% |
22% |
48% |
17% |
6% |
7% |
+11 |
| The Reserve Bank |
67% |
49% |
53% |
64% |
21% |
43% |
21% |
8% |
7% |
+11 |
| Charitable organisations |
61% |
50% |
53% |
52% |
9% |
43% |
33% |
9% |
6% |
-1 |
| Environment groups |
45% |
32% |
36% |
41% |
6% |
35% |
33% |
20% |
7% |
+5 |
| The Commonwealth Public Service |
49%* |
30% |
33% |
36% |
4% |
32% |
37% |
17% |
9% |
+3 |
| Federal Parliament |
55% |
22% |
26% |
34% |
4% |
30% |
31% |
29% |
6% |
+8 |
| Your local council |
na |
na |
32% |
34% |
3% |
31% |
39% |
22% |
6% |
+2 |
| TV news media |
na |
21% |
26% |
30% |
4% |
26% |
46% |
20% |
4% |
+4 |
| State Parliament |
na |
na |
25% |
30% |
4% |
26% |
32% |
31% |
6% |
+5 |
| Newspapers |
na |
26% |
31% |
30% |
3% |
27% |
43% |
22% |
5% |
-1 |
| Religious organisations |
29% |
27% |
31% |
27% |
5% |
22% |
29% |
37% |
7% |
-4 |
| Online news media |
na |
23% |
28% |
27% |
3% |
24% |
48% |
20% |
6% |
-1 |
| Business groups |
38% |
22% |
25% |
26% |
3% |
23% |
42% |
23% |
9% |
+1 |
| Trade unions |
39% |
22% |
23% |
25% |
4% |
21% |
31% |
36% |
7% |
+2 |
| Political parties |
na |
12% |
16% |
12% |
1% |
11% |
36% |
45% |
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.
Since this question was last asked in October, there has been a significant increase in trust in the High Court (+11%), the ABC (+11%), the Reserve Bank (+11%) and the Federal Parliament (+8). Trust in the High Court and Reserve Bank is back to similar levels to that recorded in 2011.
Respondents had most trust in the High Court (74%), the ABC (70%), the Reserve Bank (64%) and charitable organisations (52%). They had least trust in political parties (12%), trade unions (25%), business groups (26%), online news media (27%) and religious organisations (27%).
Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in the ABC (77%), environment groups (50%), the Commonwealth Public Service (44%), local councils (42%), Federal Parliament (43%) and trade unions (41%).
Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had a little more trust in religious organisations (31%) and TV news media (35%).
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%).
Trust in Institutions
Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?
|
Total trust 26 Sep 11 |
Total trust 12 Jun 12 |
A lot of trust |
Some trust |
A little trust |
No trust |
Don’t know |
% change |
|
| The High Court |
72% |
60% |
20% |
40% |
24% |
9% |
7% |
-12 |
| The ABC |
46% |
54% |
15% |
39% |
31% |
10% |
6% |
+8 |
| Charitable organisations |
61% |
50% |
8% |
42% |
35% |
10% |
5% |
-9 |
| The Reserve Bank |
67% |
49% |
13% |
36% |
30% |
14% |
7% |
-18 |
| Environment groups |
45% |
32% |
6% |
26% |
35% |
25% |
7% |
-13 |
| The Commonwealth Public Service |
49%* |
30% |
4% |
26% |
42% |
18% |
9% |
-19 |
| Religious organisations |
29% |
27% |
5% |
22% |
30% |
37% |
6% |
-2 |
| Newspapers |
na |
26% |
3% |
23% |
46% |
23% |
5% |
na |
| Online news media |
na |
23% |
2% |
21% |
45% |
25% |
6% |
na |
| Federal Parliament |
55% |
22% |
3% |
19% |
37% |
36% |
6% |
-33 |
| Trade unions |
39% |
22% |
3% |
19% |
32% |
37% |
9% |
-17 |
| Business groups |
38% |
22% |
2% |
20% |
46% |
24% |
8% |
-16 |
| TV news media |
na |
21% |
3% |
18% |
43% |
30% |
5% |
na |
| Political parties |
na |
12% |
2% |
10% |
31% |
52% |
5% |
na |
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.
Respondents had most trust in the High Court (60%), the ABC (54%), charitable organisations (50%) and the Reserve bank (49%). They had least trust in political parties (12%), TV news media (21%) Federal Parliament, trade unions and business groups (all 22%).
Trust in all institutions (except the ABC) declined since this question was asked last year. The major changes were a collapse in trust in Federal Parliament (-33%) and substantial declines in trust in the Commonwealth Public Service (-19%), the Reserve Bank (-18%), trade unions (-17%) and business groups (-16%).
Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in political parties (19%), Federal Parliament (34%), the High Court (67%), the Reserve Bank (57%), the Commonwealth Public Service (42%), trade unions (36%) and environment groups (43%).
Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had more trust in religious organisations (33%) and business groups (27%) but less trust in Federal parliament (17%), the ABC (46%), trade unions (14%) and environment groups (21%).
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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