We noted the latest Scanlon Foundation Social Cohesion Survey report. There was an interesting result on this question at page 44 of the report: ‘In Australia today, the gap between those with high incomes and those with low incomes is too large’. Of respondents aged 60-69 years, 83 per cent strongly agreed or agreed with this statement; of those aged 40-49, 72 per cent strongly agreed or agreed; of those aged 18-29, 79 per cent strongly agreed or agreed.
The survey manager, Professor Andrew Markus, noted in relation to all age groups surveyed:
The sense of social justice in Australian society declined in 2014 and further declined in 2015. For example, the proportion “strongly agreeing” that the “gap between those with high incomes and … low incomes is too large” increased from 34% in 2013 to 37% in 2014 and 44% in 2015.
Though the survey was relatively small (n=708) the responses – and the change in them in recent years – are significant when put alongside the mass of other material on growing inequality in Australia.
4 November 2015