Cost of living and distrust drive strain in annual social cohesion survey
The latest Scanlon Foundation index reveals Australians are increasingly pessimistic and financially stressed, yet overall support for multiculturalism remains robust.
At a glance
- The Scanlon index of social cohesion held steady at 78 out of 100, matching figures seen since 2023.
- Cost of living remains the top national concern cited by 36 percent of surveyed adults.
- Financial hardship is shifting voter preferences away from major parties toward groups like One Nation.
- Public backing for multiculturalism stays high despite rising negative attitudes toward specific immigrant groups.
Australians are feeling the pinch of economic strain and growing distrust in government institutions, according to the latest annual social cohesion study by the Scanlon Foundation. Despite mounting financial pressures, the research shows that foundational support for multiculturalism and community connection remains largely resilient.
Surveying more than 10,000 participants across the country, the extensive research project highlights how cost-of-living worries, housing affordability, and broader economic anxieties are shaping public mood and political choices.
Economic pressures and shifting political loyalties
Financial stress is visibly altering public sentiment, with about one in five adults reporting they have skipped meals, struggled with mortgage or rent payments, or gone without essential medicine. Lead report author Dr James OโDonnell from the Australian National University noted that citizens are dealing with intense real-world pressures.
The research connects this financial hardship directly to political shifts. Voters experiencing severe economic distress are increasingly moving away from the major Labor and Coalition parties, shifting their support toward minor political forces such as One Nation.
What the numbers reveal about national concerns
While the headline social cohesion index stayed static at 78 out of 100, individual metrics point to underlying fractures. About 62 percent of adults surveyed believe that social cohesion has weakened over recent years, and nearly a third expect their personal living standards to worsen in the next four years.
Cost of living dominated as the primary issue for 36 percent of respondents, followed by housing affordability at 11 percent. Notably, concerns over artificial intelligence ranked higher among major worries at 69 percent than climate change at 55 percent or potential military conflict at 51 percent.
Understanding the resilience of multiculturalism
The survey results present a complex picture of a society under financial strain yet retaining core social bonds. While negative attitudes toward specific nationalities and religious groups showed measurable increases since 2024, broad public endorsement for cultural diversity stayed high. Roughly 76 percent of participants agreed that multiculturalism has benefited the nation, demonstrating that everyday community trust and volunteering efforts continue to anchor social stability despite broader economic discontent.
What to watch: Watch for how political parties adjust their economic policies to address voter migration driven by financial hardship.
Reporting from: The Guardian Australia. Spotted an error? Tell us.
- social cohesion
- cost of living
- multiculturalism
- Australian politics
- Australia
- Politics