MELBOURNE, Australia / MENA Newswire / – Most Australians still support immigration and multiculturalism, but more feel poorer, pessimistic and distrustful of government, according to the annual Scanlon report on social cohesion. The 2026 Mapping Social Cohesion study, released on November 5, asked more than 10,000 adults 100 questions. Cost of living and a global economic downturn ranked as the main concerns. Artificial intelligence worried more people than climate change or war. The report also links economic hardship to shifting votes.
The Scanlon index of social cohesion held at 78 out of 100, unchanged since 2023. It is calculated from measures of belonging, worth, social inclusion and justice, participation and acceptance. Even so, 62% of adults believe social cohesion has declined in recent years. Lead author Dr James O’Donnell of the Australian National University said people were under clear economic pressure. He said there was discontent and distrust but no sign it would be permanent, pointing to strong volunteering and local trust.
Nearly one-third of respondents expect their lives to get worse over the next four years, up from 29% last year. While 79% said they had been happy in the past year, 48% were pessimistic about Australia’s future, up from 43% in 2025. Happiness declined most among millennials and generation X. Since 2014, the share of millennials who are happy fell from 84% to 75%. Among gen X, the share who are unhappy rose from 19% to 23%.
Cost of living dominates national worries
Cost of living was by far the most cited issue, named as the top concern by 36% of people. Housing affordability followed on 11%, other economic issues on 10% and immigration on 9%. Climate change was the top issue for just 4%. Asked about major issues, 77% were concerned about a severe global economic downturn. Some 69% said they worried about AI, ahead of climate change on 55% and a military conflict involving Australia on 51%. The survey comes as banks forecast a record fall in home prices.
Scanlon warned that many Australians faced financial stress in ways likely to harm social cohesion. Some 20% of adults were unhappy with their financial situation, while 10% described themselves as poor. About 13% said they had at least sometimes gone without food and struggled to pay rent or mortgage costs on time. Around one in five had gone without medicine or healthcare or could not afford to heat or cool their homes. Consumer sentiment had already fallen earlier in 2026 on mortgage rate fears.
Support for multiculturalism stays high
Several measures of attitudes to cultural diversity have eroded. Negative attitudes toward Indian immigrants rose to 33% from 25% in 2024. Negative views of Jewish people rose to 18% from 13%, and of Muslim people to 43% from 33%. Attitudes toward Hindus and Sikhs also worsened, while negativity toward Christians fell from 19% to 13%. Still, 87% said immigrants are just as likely to be good citizens. Some 76% agreed multiculturalism has been good for Australia.
The report found financial hardship may be eroding support for Labor and the Coalition. Among those who voted for either party in 2025 and now face hardship, 47% prefer another party or candidate, mostly One Nation. That compares with 36% of voters reporting no hardship. Trust also varies sharply by voting intention. Only 9% of One Nation voters trust the federal government to do the right thing, compared with 54% of Labor voters, 35% of Coalition voters and 25% of Greens voters.