Trust and confidence in all levels of Australian government is continuing to slide as calls intensify for the establishment a national anti-corruption agency.

A global corruption barometer conducted by Griffith University and Transparency International Australia has also flagged concerns about public officials or politicians using their positions to benefit themselves or their families.

A telephone survey of 2,218 adults is the first measure since 2012 gauging the growing impact of corruption on trust and confidence in government.

Project leader Professor AJ Brown of Griffith University said rising citizen distrust in real or suspected corruption underscores the need for a new anti-corruption body to be established by the Federal Government.

"We now see a stronger correlation between trust and action against corruption," Professor Brown said.

"Continued slippage in the perceived integrity of federal officials clearly has a disproportionate effect on overall trust and confidence, nationwide."

According to the survey, trust and confidence in all levels of government fell last year to 46 per cent for federal and state levels and 51 per cent for local government.

While concerns about bribery remain low, at 2 per cent, concerns about public officials and politicians abusing their position to benefit themselves or family rose to 62 per cent.

The report found there has been a 9 per cent increase in perceptions that federal members of parliament are corrupt, with 85 per cent of respondents saying at least "some" are corrupt and 18 per cent believing "most or all" are corrupt.

'Improved oversight of government long overdue'

Transparency International Australia chief executive Serena Lillywhite said the survey shows the risks of undue influence that benefits the rich and powerful is real.

"For 56 per cent of respondents — equating to over 10.2 million Australians — to say they had personally witnessed or suspected favouritism by a politician or official in exchange for donations or support is nothing less than shocking," Ms Lillywhite said.

"This snapshot also shows the case for a strong, comprehensive federal anti-corruption agency is well understood by those within government, not just based on the fears of outsiders.

"Improved transparency and strengthened oversight of government decision-making, including the regulation of lobbyists, is also long overdue."

The barometer shows 67 per cent of respondents support the creation of a federal anti-corruption body, with 43 percent expressing strong support.

The full findings will be released tomorrow at a Canberra symposium, and come as the Federal Government examines the merits of a national integrity commission similar to the Independent Commission Against Corruption in New South Wales and other state-based public integrity watchdogs.

Follow Peter Ryan on Twitter @peter_f_ryan.