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 Oct 15 | Total trust Sep 16 | Total trust Oct 17 | |||
Federal police | 70% | 31% | 39% | 18% | 7% | 5% | -1 | 67% | 63% | 71% | ||
State police | 67% | 30% | 37% | 22% | 8% | 3% | – | 68% | 63% | 67% | ||
The High Court | 61% | 24% | 37% | 22% | 11% | 6% | – | 60% | 57% | 61% | ||
The ABC | 54% | 16% | 38% | 26% | 12% | 8% | +2 | 55% | 53% | 52% | ||
The Reserve Bank | 50% | 15% | 35% | 28% | 125% | 8% | +1 | 51% | 47% | 49% | ||
Charitable organisations | 47% | 12% | 35% | 36% | 12% | 4% | +1 | 49% | 43% | 46% | ||
Environment groups | 42% | 10% | 32% | 33% | 18% | 6% | – | 42% | 39% | 42% | ||
Your local council | 42% | 9% | 33% | 37% | 18% | 4% | +4 | 40% | 36% | 38% | ||
The Commonwealth Public Service | 39% | 7% | 32% | 36% | 16% | 9% | +1 | 38% | 36% | 38% | ||
State Parliament | 31% | 7% | 24% | 33% | 31% | 6% | – | 32% | 26% | 31% | ||
Business groups | 29% | 3% | 26% | 43% | 19% | 9% | +1 | 30% | 27% | 28% | ||
Federal Parliament | 28% | 6% | 22% | 32% | 35% | 6% | -2 | 32% | 26% | 30% | ||
Religious organisations | 28% | 6% | 22% | 26% | 39% | 7% | +2 | 30% | 26% | 26% | ||
Trade unions | 25% | 5% | 20% | 35% | 31% | 9% | – | 27% | 25% | 25% | ||
Political parties | 15% | 2% | 13% | 35% | 44% | 6% | -3 | 16% | 14% | 18% |
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 October, 2017.
Respondents had most trust in the Federal police (70%), State police (67%), the High Court (61%), the ABC (54%) and the Reserve Bank (50%). They had least trust in political parties (15%), trade unions (25%), religious organisations (28%), Federal Parliament (28%) and business groups (29%).
The main change since the last poll were for local council (up 4%) and political parties (down 3%).

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