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Trust in Institutions

20 Jan 2015

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

Jun 12

Total trust

Mar 13

Total trust

Jul 14

The ABC

53%

20%

33%

28%

12%

8%

-1

54%

70%

54%

The High Court

53%

17%

36%

27%

12%

8%

-4

60%

74%

57%

The Reserve Bank

49%

14%

35%

30%

12%

9%

-3

49%

64%

52%

Charitable organisations

44%

7%

37%

36%

13%

7%

-1

50%

52%

45%

Environment groups

33%

5%

28%

39%

20%

8%

+2

32%

41%

31%

Your local council

32%

4%

28%

41%

21%

6%

-1

na

34%

33%

The Commonwealth Public Service

32%

4%

28%

39%

17%

11%

+1

30%

36%

31%

Newspapers

30%

3%

27%

43%

20%

6%

26%

30%

30%

Online news media

27%

3%

24%

43%

22%

8%

+2

23%

27%

25%

Federal Parliament

25%

3%

22%

36%

32%

7%

22%

34%

25%

TV news media

25%

2%

23%

44%

24%

6%

-7

21%

30%

32%

State Parliament

24%

3%

21%

37%

32%

7%

na

30%

24%

Trade unions

23%

4%

19%

34%

35%

9%

+1

22%

25%

22%

Business groups

23%

2%

21%

43%

23%

10%

+1

22%

26%

22%

Religious organisations

22%

4%

18%

30%

40%

7%

-4

27%

27%

26%

Political parties

14%

1%

13%

35%

45%

6%

+1

12%

12%

13%

 Note: ‘Total Trust’ is an aggregate figure achieved by adding ‘A lot of trust’ and ‘Some trust’

There have been few significant changes since this question was asked in July last year.

Respondents had most trust in the ABC (53%), the High Court (53%), the Reserve Bank (49%) and charitable organisations (44%). They had least trust in political parties (14%) and religious organisations (22%).

The main changes since the last poll were for TV news media (down 7% to 25%) and religious organisations (down 4% to 22%).

Compared to the average, Labor voters had more trust in the ABC (61%), environment groups (42%) and trade unions (33%).

Liberal/National voters, compared to the average, had a little more trust in the Reserve Bank (59%), religious organisations (29%), newspapers (38%), TV news (33%), Federal Parliament (39%), State Parliament (35%) and business groups (33%).

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