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Trust in Institutions

21 Apr 2020

Q. How much trust do you have in the following institutions and organisations?

  NET: Total Trust A lot of trust Some trust A little trust No trust Unsure Mar

2019

Sep 2018 Oct 2017 Sep 2016
Federal police 68% 24% 45% 18% 9% 5% 66% 70% 71% 63%
State police 68% 23% 45% 20% 8% 4% 66% 67% 67% 63%
The High Court 61% 21% 40% 23% 10% 6% 58% 61% 61% 57%
The Reserve Bank 60% 16% 44% 23% 10% 7% 49% 50% 49% 47%
The ABC 58% 19% 39% 22% 12% 8% 51% 54% 52% 53%
Courts and the legal system 57% 16% 41% 27% 12% 4%
Charitable organisations 54% 12% 42% 27% 13% 6% 50% 47% 46% 43%
Federal Parliament 53% 13% 40% 29% 13% 5% 35% 28% 30% 26%
Your local council 53% 10% 43% 29% 14% 5% 43% 42% 38% 36%
The Commonwealth public service 52% 11% 40% 31% 10% 8% 42% 39% 38% 36%
State Parliament 51% 12% 40% 29% 14% 6% 36% 31% 31% 26%
Environment groups 46% 12% 33% 30% 18% 7% 43% 42% 42% 39%
Trade unions 42% 8% 34% 29% 21% 9% 31% 25% 25% 25%
Business groups 40% 6% 34% 37% 15% 9% 31% 29% 28% 27%
Religious organisations 35% 8% 27% 28% 31% 6% 27% 28% 26% 26%
Political parties 33% 5% 28% 38% 22% 7% 22% 15% 18% 14%
  • There have been large increases in the trust in institutions and organisations from last year.
  • Trust in the following all significantly increased from last year: federal parliament (35% to 53%), state parliament (36% to 51%), local councils (43% to 53%), the Commonwealth public service (42% to 52%), the Reserve bank (49% to 60%), business groups (31% to 40%), trade unions (31% to 42%), religious organisations (27% to 35%) and political parties (22% to 33%).
  • Federal and state police (68% trust) remain the most trusted institutions in the list.
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