Abstract
In recent years, liberal democracy is perceived by some to be in decline or in crisis. A significant feature of debates about global democratic decline are the claims made about declining levels of political trust. In this chapter, we explore the extent to which there is a ‘crisis’ of trust in Australia. Using a commissioned survey of 1,500 participants, complemented by new focus group data, we offer a new lens to understanding the issues of institutional trust in Australia. We set out current levels of trust, mistrust, and distrust; and our findings confirm a long-term decline of political trust in Australia and also a strong differentiation between different types of public institutions. Most worryingly, we find a significant minority of Australians with high levels of distrust. Using the qualitative data, we bring a fresh perspective on the issues of trust, by setting out more clearly how Australians visualise trust, what factors underpin how they decide to trust an organisation, and the ways it can be undermined. Taken together, this chapter offers a nuanced account of the drivers of political trust in Australia
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Australian Politics at a Crossroads |
Subtitle of host publication | Prospects for Change |
Editors | Matteo Bonotti, Narelle Miragliotta |
Place of Publication | Oxon, UK |
Publisher | Routledge, Taylor & Francis |
Chapter | 4 |
Pages | 57-79 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781003394686 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781032496245, 9781032496252 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Keywords
- Political trust
- public opinion