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Australia’s reputation as the ‘lucky country’ is facing criticism within its own borders, as a large proportion of Aussies question whether this quality still holds true during an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, housing unaffordability, record levels of immigration, environmental extremes and more.

Alon Rajic, Founder of Immigration to Australia (https://immigration2australia.com/) has done the research to uncover which aspects of Australian life the population is most dissatisfied with.

Alon says: “While Australia still has much to offer, there’s a real sense its ‘luck’ isn’t shared equitably and is, in fact, running out. From soaring grocery and energy prices to climate change impacts and skyrocketing housing costs, many Australians feel that the barriers to a comfortable life are growing. The stress of these challenges often leads people to question whether the opportunities available to them and their children will be as abundant as those their parents and grandparents had access to.

Alon’s research reveals seven key reasons Australians feel their nation’s good fortune is fading, spotlighting economic pressures and a new wave of environmental challenges – redefining what it means to live in Australia today.

Alon identified the following top eight reasons why Australia may not be perceived as the ‘lucky country’ anymore:

  1. Struggle to cover essentials. Australians are doing it tough at the grocery checkouts. An analysis last year found that food prices at Coles and Woolworths increased by 9.6 per cent in the 12 months to April 20231 – outpacing Australia’s general inflation rate. Another study this year found that consumer trust for Coles and Woolworths has plummeted2. Additionally, the ACCC is taking Coles and Woolworths to court over allegations that the companies broke consumer law through misleading discount pricing claims3. 
  2. Uncontrolled rising housing prices. Australia’s capital cities’ median house price reached $1.15 million in the September 2024 quarter – a 0.8% quarterly increase and a 7.8% annual rise.4 In Sydney, the median house price reached $1.65 million. Sydney is the world’s second least affordable city, with house prices 13.8 times higher than the average income.5 A recent Immigration to Australia study found that 82 per cent of Australians found housing affordability the worst thing about our country, while 73 per cent say it’s too expensive to live here. The full report can be viewed here: https://immigration2australia.com/aussies-vote-on-the-best-worst-aspects-of-australia-for-new-arrivals/. 
  3. The fall in bulk-billed medical services. Australia has for decades been universally recognised for its free, accessible and equitable healthcare system. However, concerns over its affordability are growing, with the 2024 Australian Healthcare Index survey revealing a drop in our healthcare rating from 7.8/10 in March 2023 to 7.2 in June 2024. That’s because with the end of universal bulk billing in Australia in 2021 and continually rising operational costs in the healthcare system, most primary healthcare services how charge a gap fee directly to the patient. While the Albanese Government has tried to stem the decline of bulk billing rates across the country, a report found a 11.1 per cent decline in bulk-billing clinics in the last year,6 with a trip to the GP now costing $41.68 on average.7 
  4. Fears about illegal immigration. Australia was universally recognised for its tight border security. Following a surge in undetected boat arrivals, an Immigration to Australia survey found that 68 per cent of Australians now believe our border security is too loose. Notably, older Australians are more likely to advocate for stricter border controls, while younger generations believes that Australia has the capacity to house refugees. The full report can be viewed here: https://immigration2australia.com/are-the-nations-border-security-measures-working-australians-vote/.
  5. Mortgage holders face tripling of loan repayments due to rising rates. Thanks to interest rate increases since May 2022 and other loan fees, research reveals that Australian mortgage holders could pay nearly three times their original home loan amount over a 30-year loan period. The analysis reveals that variable rates among lenders can differ by as much as 2.81 per cent, with total fees increasing that gap to 2.95 per cent. For an average $600,000 loan, this discrepancy results in monthly repayments varying by up to $1,148, leading to a staggering total repayment of $1,706,993 at the highest recorded interest rate of 8.94 per cent over 30 years. The full report can be viewed here: https://mny.com.au/home-loans/impact-interest-rate-australian-mortgages/.
  6. Rising electricity bills. Residents in regional Queensland are feeling the sting of skyrocketing electricity costs, with bills soaring by 38 per cent over the past year8. As temperatures surged this summer, Ergon Energy reported a 7 per cent increase in electricity consumption. This has forced many families to make tough choices, such as cutting back on groceries and essential expenses, with some stating they have less financial flexibility than before.
  7. Unpredictable weather. Australia is facing ‘climate whiplash’ according to the Climate Council.9 Australia is facing increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather patterns, from severe droughts and heat to intense rains. For example, August to October 2023 saw Australia’s driest three months on record, followed by an exceptionally wet November in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. The October 2023 bushfire season in Queensland was the most destructive since the Black Summer of 2019-20, with more homes lost in a single blaze than previously recorded. Shortly after, the region was hit with record rainfall.