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Trust in Institutions

24 Jan 2017

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 Total trust Sep 16
Federal police 69% 29% 40% 19% 7% 5% +6 67% 63%
State police 67% 25% 42% 23% 6% 4% +4 68% 63%
The High Court 62%   23% 39% 23% 8% 6% +5   60% 74% 57% 60% 57%
The ABC 53%   15% 38% 26% 12% 9%   54% 70% 54% 55% 53%
The Reserve Bank 51%   15% 36% 31% 10% 8% +4   49% 64% 52% 51% 47%
Charitable organisations 45%   8% 37% 36% 14% 5% +2   50% 52% 45% 49% 43%
Environment groups 39%   8% 31% 34% 21% 7%   32% 41% 31% 42% 39%
Your local council 38%   5% 33% 37% 19% 5% +2   34% 33% 40% 36%
The Commonwealth Public Service 36%   5% 31% 37% 16% 10%   30% 36% 31% 38% 36%
State Parliament 31%   5% 26% 32% 31% 6% +5   30% 24% 32% 26%
Federal Parliament 30%   5% 25% 32% 33% 6% +4   22% 34% 25% 32% 26%
Religious organisations 28%   5% 23% 27% 38% 6% +2   27% 27% 26% 30% 26%
Trade unions 27%   5% 22% 30% 34% 9% +2   22% 25% 22% 27% 25%
Business groups 27%   3% 24% 44% 23% 7%   22% 26% 22% 30% 27%
Political parties 17% 3% 14% 34% 44% 6% +3 12% 12% 13% 16% 14%

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

 

Overall, trust in institutions has increased a little since this question was asked last September.

Respondents had most trust in the Federal police (69%), State police (67%), the High Court (62%), the ABC (53%) and the Reserve Bank (51%). They had least trust in political parties (17%), business groups (27%), trade unions (27%) and religious organisations (28%).

The main changes since the last poll were for Federal Police (up 6%), the High Courts (up 5%) and State Parliament (up 5%).

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