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%).