A perceived imbalance in power between big business and the unions has been growing since 1993 and the gap is now at its greatest since the survey began. Those who think laws for unions should be stricter is also near its lowest ever level.
Three quarters of Australians surveyed for the 2019 Australian Election Study believe big business has too much power
Less than half (46%) think unions have too much power.
Slight more (46%) think there should be stricter laws for unions, a fall over 9% since the last election.
Fewer than a fifth of those surveyed belong to a union.
More people than ever before think big business has too much power. The measure is up by 25 per cent since the lowest point in 1987. Conversely, 42 per cent think unions have too much power, the second lowest it has ever been.
The measures have diverged since 1993 with the rise in those who think big business has too much power matched by the fall in those who think too much power rests in the unions.
Only 19 per cent belong to a union, also the second lowest amount on record. Those who think there should be stricter laws for unions is down to 46 per cent from the high recorded in 1990 of 58 per cent.