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Trust in Institutions

6 Sep 2016

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

Total trust

Oct 15

State police 63% 22% 41% 24% 10% 3% -5 68%
Federal police 63% 23% 40% 25% 8% 4% -4 67%
The High Court 57%   20% 37% 25% 13% 4% -3   60% 74% 57% 60%
The ABC 53%   16% 37% 27% 13% 8% -2   54% 70% 54% 55%
The Reserve Bank 47%   14% 33% 31% 14% 8% -4   49% 64% 52% 51%
Charitable organisations 43%   8% 37% 37% 14% 4% -6   50% 52% 45% 49%
Environment groups 39%   8% 31% 33% 22% 6% -3   32% 41% 31% 42%
Your local council 36%   6% 30% 35% 24% 4% -4   34% 33% 40%
The Commonwealth Public Service 36%   5% 31% 38% 17% 9% -2   30% 36% 31% 38%
Business groups 27%   2% 25% 38% 27% 7% -3   22% 26% 22% 30%
State Parliament 26%   3% 23% 34% 35% 5% -6   30% 24% 32%
Federal Parliament 26%   3% 23% 34% 35% 5% -6   22% 34% 25% 32%
Religious organisations 26%   5% 21% 27% 40% 6% -4   27% 27% 26% 30%
Trade unions 25%   3% 22% 31% 35% 8% -2   22% 25% 22% 27%
Political parties 14% 1% 13% 32% 49% 4% -2 12% 12% 13% 16%

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

 

Overall trust in institutions has decreased a little since this question was asked last October.

Respondents had most trust in the State police (63%), Federal police (63%), the High Court (57%), the ABC (53%) and the Reserve Bank (47%). They had least trust in political parties (14%), trade unions (25%) religious organisations (26%) and business groups (27%).

The main changes since the last poll were for State Parliament, Federal Parliament and charitable organisations (all down 6%).

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