Should Migration Take the Blame for Economic Pressure?
Australians are becoming less optimistic about the country’s future as financial pressures and concerns about social cohesion continue to grow. However, non-profit organisation SSI has warned against blaming migration or multiculturalism for the challenges facing the nation.
The Scanlon Foundation’s Mapping Social Cohesion 2026 report found that 48 per cent of Australians are pessimistic about the country’s future.
It also revealed that 30 per cent experienced serious financial difficulties over the past year. These included skipping meals, struggling to pay rent or mortgage payments, going without heating or cooling, and being unable to afford medicines or healthcare.
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis AM said concerns about housing costs, living expenses and financial security were understandably affecting public confidence.
However, she warned that these concerns should not be turned into criticism of migrants or multiculturalism.
She said Australia needed to address the underlying economic and social challenges rather than look for groups to blame.
The report also highlighted a gap between public perceptions of social cohesion and what is happening within local communities.
While 62 per cent of Australians believe social cohesion has weakened over the past three or four years, the Scanlon Index of Social Cohesion remained at 78 in 2026. The score has stayed unchanged for the past four years.
Ms Roumeliotis said the stable index reflected the strength of Australian communities, despite growing national concerns.
The findings also showed that positive relationships remain strong at neighbourhood level. Around 81 per cent of Australians said their neighbours were willing to help one another, while 79 per cent believed people from different national and ethnic backgrounds got along well in their local areas.
Although support for immigration and multiculturalism has declined, the report found that many Australians continue to recognise the positive contribution migrants make to society.
SSI and more than 60 organisations from business, community, multicultural, regional and migration sectors are calling for a National Migration Summit.
The proposed summit would bring together government, businesses, unions, experts and community representatives to develop a long-term migration strategy.
Ms Roumeliotis said discussions should consider population growth alongside housing, infrastructure, workforce shortages, productivity, an ageing population, regional development and social cohesion.
She stressed that Australians' concerns should be taken seriously, but warned that blaming migration for every national challenge would not provide meaningful solutions.
The summit, she said, would offer an opportunity to move beyond short-term political debates and build a migration plan that benefits all Australians.
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Source : Press Released.
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