Australia Is Fast Becoming A Nation of Haves and Have Nots

Recent economic data reveals that Australia is fast becoming a nation of haves and have nots. The Australia Institute economic research shows that the decade 2009-19 delivered 93% of the wealth growth into the hands of the top 10% of Australian owners and earners. Not coincidentally, this coincided with the Coalition of Liberals and Nationals in power. During this time, the Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison governments brought in regressive taxation measures, which are culminating with the Stage 3 tax cuts to the most wealthy section of our society.  Flattening the tax system means that the wealthy keep more of their money and there is less redressing effect to help those much less fortunate within our communities.

Inequality & Inequity Hallmarks of Australian Society in the 21C

Australians are turning a deaf ear and blind eye to the plight of the growing poor and disadvantaged among our nation. The recent uproar about the crime wave in Alice Springs conveniently ignores the complete lack of services for Indigenous youth in regional areas. There is nothing for these kids to do in so many places around Australia. There is no one in their corner demanding better things either. The Voice to Parliament, which Peter Dutton the Opposition leader is campaigning against, will be a voice on matters such as these for the neglected poor amid our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters. The Liberal Party and National Party are divisive and non-inclusive forces within the Australian political landscape. Australia is fast becoming a nation of haves and have nots.

Coalition Drove Inequity As Policy During Their Time In Power

The Coalition during their decade in power attempted an Americanisation of our institutions and way of life. The Coalition increased the costs of higher education for degrees in the humanities. They sought to increase privatisation of our tertiary institutions, which would lead to higher prices for degrees, as in America. Looking after the wealthy is a prime directive for the Liberals in Australia. If they could dismantle Medicare they would. Medicare is far from perfect but have a look at the United States if you want to see the worst failure of a healthcare system with a complete lack of universal health insurance. Privatisation in health delivers worldclass healthcare for the 10% who can afford it and disastrous outcomes for the 90% of the population who struggle to pay their medical bills and premiums. More people enter bankruptcy from outrageously priced medical bills in the US than anywhere else in the world.

Aspirational Politics Mask Inequity

Aspirational politics has infected Australia over the last couple of decades. Too many of us are only concerned with looking out for ourselves economically. The Coalition has moved further to the right, copying what is happening in the U.S. again. The greed is good culture has permeated those on the conservative side. The Robodebt scheme inaugurated by Scott Morrison zealously attacked those on welfare as cheats. This zealotry combined with their incompetence has cost us the tax payers $1.8 billion in a class action settlement. A Royal Commission has revealed how wrong Morrison, Alan Tudge, Stuart Robert, and Marise Payne got it. Several vulnerable and entirely innocent Australians killed themselves over debts in the thousands of dollars they did not owe. It was a complete abuse of power and catastrophic failing of the public service and government. It was a betrayal of trust of the Australian people. It ran for 5 years and the Australian people did nothing. We were largely indifferent to the suffering of the poorest and least able to defend themselves among us. This is the new Australia we live in. Australia is fast becoming a nation of haves and have nots.

Unfair Australia & Liberal Party Politics

The Liberal Party and National Party Coalition is built on policies that look after the vested interests of the already wealthy and powerful. The Murdoch press likewise look after their corporate mates who advertise in their newspapers and on their radio programs. Similarly, Nine Fairfax follow the corporate media mandate, where objective journalism comes second to the interests of advertisers. The ABC remains a bastion of independence but had to survive a decade of concerted attacks by the Coalition. Its budget was slashed and its journalists criticised by Coalition government members in an attempt to weaken their reporting on their governing. It was effective in neutering the more outspoken Auntie presenters.

Australia has spent two decades growing used to locking up and, therefore, psychologically torturing asylum seekers who come to our shores via illegal boats. Out of sight is out of mind via offshore processing and locking these desperate people up in prison camps for years and years.

The haves do not want their island paradise sullied by the needy, especially if they are dark skinned Arabs and Africans. Australia was built on the basis of it being a new world for white people – this remains rooted inside the beliefs and attitudes of many Australians. Racism voices its ugly message online via cowardly trolls and at the footy on weekends with black players being abused over the fence. It has a political champion in Pauline Hanson and her party who these racists can vote for. There is much greater racism in regional Australia, where the levels of education are far poorer, along with the available services.

The status quo ensures the continuing grossly unfair distribution of the nation’s wealth to the top 10%. The Coalition is all about the status quo, which is why after a decade in power they did nothing to provide Australia with an energy policy to meet the existential challenge of climate change. Playing politics whilst Australia burns was Tony Abbott’s and Scott Morrison’s speciality. Australia now faces a steeper road ahead to transition from fossil fuels to alternative low carbon emitting energy sources. This is why they were voted out of office in the end. Even the selfish Australians eventually realised you cannot go on having a government sticking their heads in the sand. The clock is ticking and even the dumbos in Queensland will have to wake up to the global reality.

Australia has become less community minded over recent decades. Our concept of who is part of our community is far more likely to only entertain PLUs. Do individual white Australians feel a sense of responsibility for helping their disadvantaged black, fellow and sister, Australians? Would they walk a kilometre in their shoes? Or do they judge them harshly on a meaner scale of everyone is out for themselves?

Robert Sudha Hamilton in his latest book Money Matters: Navigating Credit, Debt & Financial Freedom

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