Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
Western Branch Meeting 2022-1 of the Royal Society fo NSW -- 15 March 2022
Public Trust and Science in Times of Coronavirus
A public forum comprising:
Robert Clancy AM FRSN, Emeritus Professor (Univ. of Newcastle) and Chair, Advisory Board, CSU Rural and Regional Health Institute
Michelle Grattan AO FASSA, Chief Political Correspondent, The Conversation, and Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Jane Quinn, Professor of Veterinary Physiology, Charles Sturt University
facilitated by
Mark Evans, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) of Charles Sturt University.
https://royalsoc.org.au/blog/western-nsw-branch-meeting-2022-1
Summary: Public trust is critically important for pandemic recovery. Without it, the confidence necessary to build an effective and sustained recovery is in peril. People need to trust the government to support more government intervention that makes a difference. In mid-2020, Australia was widely viewed by the public as having successfully managed the pandemic, especially compared to the US, UK, and other European countries. Australians’ trust in their government almost doubled in a year from 29% to 54%. The same is not the case today. Our latest research with the Social Research Institute at Ipsos conducted in October 2021 shows that trust in people in government has declined 12 points from 54% to 42% in a matter of months. Our survey findings suggest that institutions viewed as extending the protective power of democracy in a time of fear – safeguarding our civic culture and heritage, community security, health, and wellbeing – were most trusted. For example, note the high levels of trust in defence and law and order organisations such as the police (76%), army (73%), and the courts (61%). Moreover, the highest levels of trust are bestowed to Medicare (80%); cultural institutions such as libraries (82%) and museums (78); and universities (70%) and experts (79%). In contrast, institutions deemed, rightly or wrongly, to be acting on the basis of self-interest or against the collective interest faired worst. And unfortunately, politicians figure strongly. There is evidence of receding trust in political parties (20%), the national cabinet (38%), and other key institutions held responsible for bringing politics into disrepute such as television (35%), the press (30%) and especially social media (15%).
COVID-19 has brought to centre stage the role of the “expert” and "science", in the policy response to the most serious international health crisis in a century. This stands in stark contrast with the rise of populism in many liberal democracies in recent years which has been accompanied by a spurning of expertise. In short, Australian citizens trust scientists and this was the case even before the pandemic. The Wellcome Global Monitor ran a survey in 2019 on trust in science and scientists in over 140 countries, which also included a question on trust in national government. Australia ranks just 85th out of 134 countries for its level of political trust, but 14th out of 144 for trust in scientists, suggesting that in relative terms we have a high level of trust in scientists.
Given its trusted position on the frontline of public education, the purpose of this panel discussion is to evaluate the role that Science and more generally experts can and do play in enhancing democratic governance and bridging the trust divide between government and citizen.
Western Branch Meeting 2022-1 of the Royal Society fo NSW -- 15 March 2022
Public Trust and Science in Times of Coronavirus
A public forum comprising:
Robert Clancy AM FRSN, Emeritus Professor (Univ. of Newcastle) and Chair, Advisory Board, CSU Rural and Regional Health Institute
Michelle Grattan AO FASSA, Chief Political Correspondent, The Conversation, and Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Jane Quinn, Professor of Veterinary Physiology, Charles Sturt University
facilitated by
Mark Evans, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) of Charles Sturt University.
https://royalsoc.org.au/blog/western-nsw-branch-meeting-2022-1
Summary: Public trust is critically important for pandemic recovery. Without it, the confidence necessary to build an effective and sustained recovery is in peril. People need to trust the government to support more government intervention that makes a difference. In mid-2020, Australia was widely viewed by the public as having successfully managed the pandemic, especially compared to the US, UK, and other European countries. Australians’ trust in their government almost doubled in a year from 29% to 54%. The same is not the case today. Our latest research with the Social Research Institute at Ipsos conducted in October 2021 shows that trust in people in government has declined 12 points from 54% to 42% in a matter of months. Our survey findings suggest that institutions viewed as extending the protective power of democracy in a time of fear – safeguarding our civic culture and heritage, community security, health, and wellbeing – were most trusted. For example, note the high levels of trust in defence and law and order organisations such as the police (76%), army (73%), and the courts (61%). Moreover, the highest levels of trust are bestowed to Medicare (80%); cultural institutions such as libraries (82%) and museums (78); and universities (70%) and experts (79%). In contrast, institutions deemed, rightly or wrongly, to be acting on the basis of self-interest or against the collective interest faired worst. And unfortunately, politicians figure strongly. There is evidence of receding trust in political parties (20%), the national cabinet (38%), and other key institutions held responsible for bringing politics into disrepute such as television (35%), the press (30%) and especially social media (15%).
COVID-19 has brought to centre stage the role of the “expert” and "science", in the policy response to the most serious international health crisis in a century. This stands in stark contrast with the rise of populism in many liberal democracies in recent years which has been accompanied by a spurning of expertise. In short, Australian citizens trust scientists and this was the case even before the pandemic. The Wellcome Global Monitor ran a survey in 2019 on trust in science and scientists in over 140 countries, which also included a question on trust in national government. Australia ranks just 85th out of 134 countries for its level of political trust, but 14th out of 144 for trust in scientists, suggesting that in relative terms we have a high level of trust in scientists.
Given its trusted position on the frontline of public education, the purpose of this panel discussion is to evaluate the role that Science and more generally experts can and do play in enhancing democratic governance and bridging the trust divide between government and citizen.
