In Australia, trust in government is at an all-time low. The are many causes of declining trust. Globalisation and cultural anxiety are part of the story, as is the changing media landscape. But the actions and inactions of politicians are also part of the problem. To help restore trust, political institutions need to be made more transparent and accountable. As this submission shows, practical, low-cost reforms are available, including: improving the visibility of major donors to political parties; publishing ministerial diaries, so that people know who ministers meet with; establishing a strong and well-resourced national integrity commission; introducing a code of conduct for all MPs; and capping advertising expenditure during election campaigns, to limit the influence of money in politics.