‘Discontent and distrust’: annual social cohesion checkup shows exactly what’s making Australia angry

The Guardian World Wednesday 04 November 2026, 14:00 UTC By Josh Butler and Mike Hohnen 1 min read

Key Points

Cost of living and AI outrank climate change and war as top concerns for future, but support for multiculturalism remains strongGet our daily political email, free app or daily news podcastThe vast majority of Australians support immigration and multiculturalism despite more feeling poorer – and increasingly pessimistic and distrustful of government, the annual Scanlon report on social cohesion has revealed. People are more worried about artificial intelligence than climate change or going...

Cost of living and AI outrank climate change and war as top concerns for future, but support for multiculturalism remains strong

Get our daily political email, free app or daily news podcast

The vast majority of Australians support immigration and multiculturalism despite more feeling poorer – and increasingly pessimistic and distrustful of government, the annual Scanlon report on social cohesion has revealed.

People are more worried about artificial intelligence than climate change or going to war, but a global economic downturn and cost-of-living pressures are Australians’ key concerns.

Australia (LOCATION) AI (ORG) Australians (ORG) Scanlon (ORG)

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