Australia sees record rise in public trust, OECD survey shows

The OECD 2026 Trust Survey reports that 51 % of Australians now express high or moderately high trust in the federal government, up from 38 % in 2021 and above the OECD average of 40 %. Trust in state and local governments is slightly higher, and 60 % of respondents view the public sector favourably. Confidence is strongest in law‑and‑order institutions, with 73 % trusting the police and 58 % the courts.

On artificial intelligence, 30 % of Australians say they understand AI well enough to explain it, while 38‑40 % are confident the government will protect personal data, maintain human oversight and be transparent about AI use. Additionally, 43 % believe AI will enable more tailored services and 42 % expect it to reduce costs. Assistant Minister for the Public Service Patrick Gorman said the results show Australia is on track to become a world leader in AI‑enhanced public service delivery, while noting continued work is needed to improve service speed and integrity.