Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has a very big problem this coming Saturday, election day; he is the most distrusted political leader in Australia according to an April 2025 survey by Roy Morgan.

Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said that “distrust was at dangerously high levels for Dutton".

“Roy Morgan’s special survey on trust and distrust in the lead-up to the federal election shows that Coalition Leader Peter Dutton has the unwanted and extremely unhelpful, distinction of being Australia’s most distrusted politicians – by a significant margin,” she said.

“Dutton’s high level of distrust is such that he is 220% more distrusted than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – who also faces his own challenges. Albanese has a higher level of distrust than trust, but his net distrust is low compared to his rival.”

In order, the top political leaders with a net distrust score are: Peter Dutton, Clive Palmer (he was top in 2022), Donald Trump, Anthony Albanese, Chris Bowen, Jacinta Allan, Adam Bandt, Pauline Hanson, Angus Taylor, Barnaby Joyce and Michaelia Cash.

Interestingly, at the last election, there were no Labor politicians in the top 10 most distrusted list, but this year there are three – Albanese, Bowen and Allan. Incumbency may have many advantages, but it also carries cost. Allan has the added problem of having been delivered a hospital pass (literally and metaphorically) by her former leader.

Levine says conventional wisdom tells us that elections are all about trust, but in 2025 it is different. “For the first time in our history, Australians are more riven by who and what they distrust rather than who they trust. Voters aren’t looking for the headland speech or the next charismatic leader – they’re looking for the safest option in a climate of anxiety and scepticism."

Back in 2022 the political leaders with net trust scores were (in order) Penny Wong, Albanese, Tanya Plibersek, Mark McGowan and Jacquie Lambie. In 2025, the top five are David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie, David Crisafulli, Chris Minns and Roger Cook. Lambie is a classic example of the benefits of authenticity and Cook says something about the state of the WA Liberal Party.

Pocock and Lambie are almost not distrusted at all. More importantly, what marks them out highlights what’s wrong with Australian politics – they are the antithesis of the professionals who have clawed their way up through the factions and are more seat-warmers than anything else.

ACT Senator Pocock is seen as a genuine politician with a willingness to listen and learn. He is seen as a principled, and articulate politician who listens to his constituents, champions the vulnerable and the environment, prioritises the national good over corporate interests, and approaches politics with humility and a willingness to learn.

Lambie is seen as straight-talking, honest and authentic. She is trusted because she’s seen as an empathetic representative who speaks from experience, stands up for everyday Australians and veterans and brings authenticity and a no-nonsense approach to politics. As one respondent said, “crude but honest.”

The reactions to both are not only to them personally, but also highlight what voters are missing from the major parties and their leaders.

Levine has some pertinent last words on the research: “The federal election result will be heavily influenced by which candidate for the top job is the least distrusted_._” (emphasis in the original).