A majority of Australians believe the Royal Commission into Banks and Financial Services has uncovered more wrong doing (70%) and is most important for Australians (65%) compared to the Royal Commission into Trade Unions, according to new polling from The Australia Institute. 

Meanwhile, almost a third of Australians (31%) believe the Royal Commission into Trade Unions was established to attack political opponents, more than triple those who believe any of the three other Royal Commissions to be politically motivated. 

Key Findings:

• The majority of respondents (70%) thought the Royal Commission into Banks and Financial Services had uncovered more wrong-doing, was most important for Australians (65%) and would lead to the most lasting change (55%) compared to the Royal Commission into Trade Unions
• 31% of respondents thought the Royal Commission into Trade Unions was established to attack political opponents, more than triple those who believe other Royal Commissions to be politically motivated (Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse 1%, Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services 8%, Murray- Darling Basin 10%)
• 34% thought the Royal Commission into Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry was establishedbecause of public pressure from voters, while 49% thought it was established to pursue justice and fairness 

“It is clear the Royal Commission into Banks and Financial Services is doing its job as intended, the majority of Australians believe it has uncovered the most wrong-doing and that it is the most important for Australians,” says Ben Oquist, Executive Director at The Australia Institute. 

“Given all that the Banking Royal Commission has uncovered to date, it is little wonder that it is viewed as most important among voters.”