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Trust in Institutions

25 Sep 2018

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 Oct 15 Total trust Sep 16 Total trust Oct 17
Federal police 70% 31% 39% 18% 7% 5% -1 67% 63% 71%
State police 67% 30% 37% 22% 8% 3% 68% 63% 67%
The High Court 61%   24% 37% 22% 11% 6%   60% 57% 61%
The ABC 54%   16% 38% 26% 12% 8% +2   55% 53% 52%
The Reserve Bank 50%   15% 35% 28% 125% 8% +1   51% 47% 49%
Charitable organisations 47%   12% 35% 36% 12% 4% +1   49% 43% 46%
Environment groups 42%   10% 32% 33% 18% 6%   42% 39% 42%
Your local council 42%   9% 33% 37% 18% 4% +4   40% 36% 38%
The Commonwealth Public Service 39%   7% 32% 36% 16% 9% +1   38% 36% 38%
State Parliament 31%   7% 24% 33% 31% 6%   32% 26% 31%
Business groups 29%   3% 26% 43% 19% 9% +1   30% 27% 28%
Federal Parliament 28%   6% 22% 32% 35% 6% -2   32% 26% 30%
Religious organisations 28%   6% 22% 26% 39% 7% +2   30% 26% 26%
Trade unions 25%   5% 20% 35% 31% 9%   27% 25% 25%
Political parties 15% 2% 13% 35% 44% 6% -3 16% 14% 18%

 

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

 

Overall, trust in institutions has changed little since this question was asked in October, 2017.

 

Respondents had most trust in the Federal police (70%), State police (67%), the High Court (61%), the ABC (54%) and the Reserve Bank (50%). They had least trust in political parties (15%), trade unions (25%), religious organisations (28%), Federal Parliament (28%) and business groups (29%).

 

The main change since the last poll were for local council (up 4%) and political parties (down 3%).

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