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

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

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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.