title: Demographic indicators of trust in federal, state and local government: implications for Australian health policy makers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide baseline findings regarding Australians' trust in federal, state and local government.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) survey was administrated during October to December 2009 to a random sample (n=1109) across Australia (response rate 41.2%). Binary logistic regression analyses were carried out by means of SPSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age, household size, household income, IRSD and ARIA were found to be significant indicators for trust in federal, state and local government. Trust in state government is lower for older respondents and respondents living in inner and outer regional areas. Trust in local council is lower in respondents living in inner regional areas, respondents living in disadvantaged areas, and respondents in the income bracket of $60001 to $100000. Trust in federal government is lower for older respondents and respondents living in disadvantaged areas. Of note is diminished trust in government among older, regional and lower income ($30001-$60000) respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trust in all levels of government was found to be the lowest in population groups that are identified by empirical research and media to have the poorest access to government services. As a consequence, improved access to services for these populations may increase trust in health policy. Increased trust in health governance may in turn, ensure effective dissemination and implementation of health policies and that existing inequities are not perpetuated through distrust of health information and policy initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Flinders University, Discipline of Public Health, Health Sciences Building, Registry Road, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia. samantha.meyer@flinders.edu.au
authors.forename: Samantha B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Loreen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mamerow
authors.forename: Anne W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coveney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D035082:Federal Government; D005260:Female; D006076:Government; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009111:Local Government; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013219:State Government; D035502:Trust