Reader's Digest Magazine July 2008 Press Release

2008 – AUSTRALIA’S MOST TRUSTED PEOPLE AND THOSE WE’VE LOST FAITH IN

Pioneering burns surgeon Fiona Wood has again topped the list of Australia’s most trusted people, and is joined by the likes of Ian Kiernan, The Wiggles and Dr Karl. But when it comes to the crunch, who would you trust to mind your house, pack your parachute, or back you up in a pub fight?

The answers to these intriguing scenarios appear in the fourth annual Reader’s Digest Trust Survey. The poll has canvassed a cross-section of 750 Australians to reveal the people we believe in … as well as those we don’t. 

SO WHO DO WE BELIEVE IN?

AUSTRALIA’S MOST TRUSTED PEOPLE

1) Fiona Wood 2) Professor Ian Frazer 3) Ian Kiernan 4) Dr Harry Cooper 5) The Wiggles 6) Princess Mary 7) Ernie Dingo 8) Peter Cundall 9) Olivia Newton-John 10) Dr Karl Kruzelnicki.

AT THE TAIL OF THE FIELD

91) Paul Keating 92) Peter Costello 93) Brendan Nelson 94) Tony Abbott 95tied) Shane Warne 95tied) Sol Trujillo 97) David Hicks 98) Ben Cousins 99) Wayne Carey 100) Rodney Adler.

MOVERS & SLIDERS

Terri Irwin drops 42 places to 49th, while Bindi slips 25 places to 31st. Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting slides 9 spots to 38th after a controversial summer. Greg Norman slipped 14 places to 70th, off the back of his rebound engagement to Chris Evert. The bottom 23 places on the list are occupied by men – many of them sportspeople.

THE ASCENSION OF KEVIN & WHAT BRENDAN NEEDS TO DO NEXT

Kevin Rudd jumps 11 places to 62nd – the highest trust rating for any politician. Opposition leader Brendan Nelson comes in at a lowly 93, prompting a human behaviour expert to suggest he needs to surround himself with shorter people, get some voice training and have a good sleep.

TOP SPORTS

Sports stars have delivered very mixed results in the Trust Survey. Retired tennis player Pat Rafter comes in highest at 13th, edging out Grant Hackett in 14th and Jodie Henry in 17th. Surfer Layne Beachley look 24th position, while Casey Stoner came in at number 27 (the number he rode to victory in the MotoGP world championship last year.)

WHEN IT COMES TO THE CRUNCH

Trust all depends on the situation. Certain scenarios highlight how trust is connected to perceptions of both character and expertise. For example, most people would trust Cate Blanchett to look after their kids, but they’d rather have Kerri-Anne Kennerley minding the house. David Koch is considered the most likely to pay back a $1000 loan, and to be trusted packing your parachute. Kyle Sandilands will really let you know if your bum looks big in those jeans, while The Queen would be the best person to keep an embarrassing secret – as well as your email password.

THE CROWE FACTOR

When it comes to trust, Russell Crowe is a hot or cold proposition. Most men (73%) opted for the Gladiator star to back them in a pub fight, but he’s the last person we’d trust with an embarrassing secret. We wouldn’t trust him with the car keys, but most women chose Rusty as the person to administer the kiss of life (for men the clear winner was Kylie Minogue).

THE FULL LISTS & ANALYSIS

More information is available at www.readersdigest.com.au and the full lists & article are available on request. INTERVIEWS To arrange interviews with Reader’s Digest Editor-in-Chief Tom Moore, Social Trends commentator Bernard Salt, or Social Researcher Dr Rebecca Huntley of the Ipsos Mackay Report - contact Fiona Hamann on 02-9018 6224 or 0423 560 163 Tues-Thurs, (or Beatrix Hon on 02-9018 6227 Mon & Fri.)