The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Feb, 2012

    ,

    Trust in Institutions

    Q. How much trust do you have in the following national institutions:

    A lot of trust Some trust A little trust No trust Don’t know
    The Australian Defence Force 41% 37% 13% 4% 5%
    The Federal Police 27% 41% 21% 6% 5%
    The Federal and High Courts 24% 36% 26% 9% 5%
    Our intelligence agencies like ASIO 20% 39% 23% 9% 10%
    The Reserve Bank 19% 37% 27% 12% 5%
    The Family Court 15% 35% 28% 15% 7%
    The Commonwealth Public Service 10% 39% 30% 15% 6%
    Business and banking regulators 6% 27% 34% 27% 6%

    Respondents were most likely to say they had a lot of trust in the Australian Defence Force (41%), Federal Police (27%) and Federal and High Courts (24%).

    The least trusted institutions were business band banking regulators (61% little/no trust), the Commonwealth Public Service (45%) and the Family Court (43%).

    Labor voters were more likely to have a lot or some trust in the Commonwealth Public Service (59%), the Federal and High Courts (66%) and the Family Court (56%).

    Liberal/National voters were more likely to have a lot or some trust in the Australian Defence Force (86%) and intelligence agencies like ASIO (66%). Comments »

  • Aug, 2011

    , , , , , ,

    Trust in organisations to handle personal information

    Q. Thinking about your personal information that you sometimes have to give to organisations and companies, how much trust do you have in following organisations to handle your personal information appropriately?

    A lot of trust Some trust Little trust No trust Don’t know
    The medical profession 39% 40% 12% 7% 2%
    Banks 19% 40% 27% 13% 2%
    Governments 12% 38% 28% 20% 2%
    Australian companies 6% 43% 35% 13% 2%
    On-line companies 2% 25% 41% 29% 3%
    Political parties 2% 20% 34% 40% 4%
    Foreign companies 1% 18% 36% 41% 4%
    The media 2% 14% 35% 47% 2%

    Of the organisations measured, the medical profession is the most trusted to handle personal information (79% a lot/some trust). Banks (59%) are trusted more that Governments (50%) or Australian companies (49%).

    The media are the least trusted with 82% saying they have little or no trust in them.

    People aged under 35 tend to be more trustful with their personal information – especially with Governments (58% a lot/some trust), banks (69%) and on-line companies (35%).

    Comments »

  • Jun, 2011

    , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Party trusted to handle important election issues

    Q. And which party would you trust most to handle the following issues?

    Labor Liberal Greens Don’t know
    Management of the economy 29% 47% 3% 22%
    Ensuring a quality education for all children 38% 35% 5% 23%
    Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system 33% 35% 6% 25%
    Protecting the environment 18% 21% 39% 23%
    A fair industrial relations system 40% 31% 4% 24%
    Political leadership 26% 38% 5% 31%
    Addressing climate change 21% 24% 29% 26%
    Controlling interest rates 26% 44% 3% 28%
    Protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries 35% 35% 4% 26%
    Ensuring a quality water supply 21% 28% 22% 29%
    Housing affordability 26% 34% 4% 35%
    Ensuring a fair taxation system 29% 37% 4% 30%
    Security and the war on terrorism 25% 40% 3% 32%
    Treatment of asylum seekers 19% 39% 11% 31%
    Managing population growth 21% 36% 7% 36%

    Labor is the most trusted party on only one issue – a fair industrial relations system. There is little difference between Labor and the Liberals for ensuring a quality education for all children, ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system and protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    This represents a weakening in Labor’s position over the last few months. In January Labor was trusted most to handle ensuring a quality education for all children and in October Labor also had a significant lead on protecting Australian jobs and protection of local industries.

    Comments »

  • Nov, 2010

    , , , , , , , , ,

    Trust in TV News and Current Affairs

    Q. How much trust do you have in the news and current affairs on the following TV channels?

      A lot of trust Some trust Not much trust Don’t know
    ABC 42% 42% 9% 6%
    Channel 7 8% 53% 33% 6%
    Channel 9 8% 54% 31% 6%
    Channel 10 7% 55% 31% 6%
    Sky News 12% 40% 17% 31%

    42% say they have a lot of trust in the ABC news and current affairs and 42% have some trust. Only 9% have not much trust.

    Levels of trust in the free-to-air commercial channels are similar – less than 10% have a lot of trust and over 30% say they have not much trust in them.

    Sky News is trusted more than the other commercial channels – 12% say they have a lot of trust and only 17% have not much trust.

    Highest levels of trust in the ABC are shown by men (47% a lot of trust), Greens voters (62%) and Labor voters (48%) and those on income over $1,600pw (49%). Comments »

  • Jun, 2010

    , , , , , , ,

    Trust in Groups

    Q. And how much trust do you have in the following groups to represent the interests of people like you?

    Total a lot/some trust A lot of trust Some trust A little trust No trust at all Don’t know
    Environment groups 38% 8% 30% 28% 22% 11%
    Unions 33% 8% 25% 27% 30% 10%
    Business lobby groups 21% 4% 17% 30% 35% 15%
    Religious groups 20% 5% 15% 24% 43% 13%
    Mining companies 20% 2% 18% 27% 40% 13%
    Banks 15% 2% 13% 26% 49% 10%
    The media 14% 1% 13% 33% 43% 9%

    38% said they have a lot or some trust in environment groups and 33% have a lot/some trust in unions. Banks (15%) and the media (14%) were the least trusted groups.

    49% had no trust at all in banks and 43% had no trust at all in religious groups and the media.

    51% of Labor voters have trust in unions and 47% have trust in environment groups. The most trusted groups for Liberal/National voters are mining companies (32%) and business lobby groups (31%). Comments »

Error: