‘Ruined Australia’: Furious Aussies unload about direction country is going

Aussies have revealed why they’re unhappy with the direction Australia is headed in — and it should send chills down the spines of our leaders.

Disenchantment with Australia’s leaders and concern about “woke” culture were two of the most common reasons why almost 70 per cent of people were not happy with the direction the country is headed in.

News.com.au’s State of the Nation online survey uncovered simmering resentments across a wide range of issues including “corrupt” government, lack of climate change action, expensive housing, fears over China, “too much government control”, and the “rich getting richer”.

There were 13,676 responses from Australians aged over 18 years old, to a survey question that asked people whether they were happy with the direction Australia was heading in. A whopping 68 per cent answered “no”.

The greatest dissatisfaction was among those aged 25-33 and 35-44, with 71 per cent of these groups unhappy, while those aged 55 and over had the highest satisfaction with 34 per cent happy, and 66 per cent unhappy.

Interestingly, the results were better than in 2019 when 75 per cent of people were unhappy (7 per cent higher than this year) — and only 25 per cent were happy compared to 32 per cent now.

In this year’s survey, many of those who were happy, commented Australia was “performing better than other countries”.

Those who were unhappy had gripes across many different issues.

The greatest dissatisfaction was in Victoria, where 73 per cent were unhappy, while the happiest states and territories were Northern Territory (46 per cent), South Australia (36 per cent) and Western Australia (35 per cent).

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Angry protesters in Sydney during a protest to rally for freedom of speech and movement in July last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Women were more likely to be dissatisfied, with 71 per cent unhappy, compared to 67 per cent of men.

Interestingly 53 per cent thought Australia had done a good job of handling the pandemic, and had avoided the death toll and economic impacts of other countries.

But 25 per cent thought authorities should have imposed fewer restrictions and lockdowns, with the vote highest on this in Victoria, where 33 per cent thought there should have been fewer restrictions.

About 46 per cent of Victorians still thought Australia had done a good job — but it was the only state or territory to record a score lower than 50 per cent.

Satisfaction with the Covid response was highest in Western Australia (58 per cent) and South Australia (59 per cent).

Men were more likely than women to think Australia should have imposed less restrictions, with 27 per cent of men thinking this, compared to 22 per cent of women.

Overall, just 18 per cent thought Australia should have done more to limit the Covid death toll.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ approach to the pandemic may has contributed to dissatisfaction among Victorians about the way Australia handled Covid. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Luis Enrique Ascui

‘Stumbling from one crisis to the next’

The reasons for the dissatisfaction with Australia’s general direction varied widely.

Out of 9445 people who said they were unhappy with Australia’s direction, 7875 wrote a comment explaining why.

Interestingly, many of the responses centred around a sense that Australia had lost its direction.

“There is no direction, we are barely stumbling from one crisis to the next,” one respondent wrote.

“Australia is going away from its values and what made it a great country,” another said.

Others lamented “poor leadership” and said they felt “we have no goals or directions”, while others said they felt the country was becoming “increasingly divided”.

“Just no chance to improve myself any more. The land of milk and honey is gone,” one person wrote.

“We are not prepared for the future, lacking in every area, no infrastructure, no security or means to defend our country. No way to defend our borders,” another said.

Hatred of ‘woke’ culture

Another common theme was the focus on “woke” culture, which was blamed for political correctness, restrictions to personal freedoms and the focus on climate change and fringe groups.

“Woke leftists and climate alarmists are destroying the fabric of our nation,” one person said.

“To [sic] much political correctness and pandering to minorities, by left wing groups,” another wrote.

“Woke and PC trends are destroying personal freedoms and we have media in Australia that has become too far biased and left leaning.”

However, there were also many comments complaining about the lack of climate change action.

“This government has refused to address the real issues of climate. They look after their own and that’s about it,” one person said.

Another simply said: “cruel, corrupt and poor climate action”.

Corruption and ‘too much government control’

A possible hangover from two years of Covid restrictions was the frequent complaint about “too much government control”,

“Our government need to get out of our lives. They have become authoratarian [sic] with mandates, border closures, etc They need to manage our government, not our lives,” one person said.

“Too many taxes, government having too much control over peoples lives,” another added.

“Too much government red tape and interference into people’s day to day lives. Australia needs to get back to basics. Sort out Australia’s problems first,” was another comment.

Many also complained about corruption.

Extinction Rebellion protesters at Parliament House in Canberra earlier this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“LNP have created an Australia where it is ok to lie and cheat. Unchecked corruption and billions of dollars wasted or channeled [sic] to mates,” one said.

“Government is corrupt They have no interest in the people,” another said.

Politicians have ‘ruined Australia’

Dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s performance was another feature, a concerning result amid a close election campaign.

“Scott Morrison ruined Australia,” one said.

Another said: “The government has lost touch with the people. They only care about getting re-elected and not about the people they represent.”

People were also critical of Labor but Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s name was not mentioned as much, possibly as he is not as well known.

“Scott Morrison is not a leader and his party has no idea, not sure we are heading anywhere but it [sic] labor get in we are in big trouble,” one person said.

Another said: “I have lost a lot of faith in our leaders. Morrison has completely lost touch with people and does not understand the pressures people are under. [His] “She’ll be right” attitude is simply offensive.

“Labor is simply the “Other Guys” that promises he’ll be better than this guy.. Sorry I don’t believe that.

“Then you have the UAP who’s advertising and plans for Australia are simply lies yet the major parties don’t call him out as they may need his votes to get elected. If either major party take UAP or One Nations preferences then they have lost my vote.”

Many were unhappy with Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s performance. Picture: Jason Edwards

Cost of living, China, immigration, jobs and welfare

Surprisingly, cost of living complaints were not an overwhelming focus, although many people did mention expensive housing and the growing class divide.

“Housing is becoming a luxury,” one said.

“It is becoming too expensive to survive,” another said.

“The Rich get richer on the back of the people who do all the work for little reward,” someone added.

“Cost of living and housing affordability are going to increase class disparity and poverty for future generations,” another said.

There was also concern about the loss of manufacturing.

“Not enough industry and manufacturing. Not enough training trades people. Country health ie lack of doctors is a major problem Likely of foreign invasion,” one person said.

Others also mentioned fears about China, as tensions increase in Australia’s backyard.

“China has built 30 Navy ships in the time we spent arguing gender politics,” one person said.

Immigration was also a concern but some worried Australia was becoming more racist.

“We’re getting more racist, publications are blatantly sharing misinformation, social media provides everyone a soap box and the ability to share incorrect information,” one person said.

Another said: “To much immigration, bringing their cultural problems and attitudes to Australia, it’s not appropriate, hence crime increase etc.”

While some said there was too much welfare being given to minority groups, others decried the lack of compassion for others.

“Cruelty and lack of compassion for those in need (poor, unemployed, disabled, ATSI, refugees and asylum seekers, NZers) has worsened,” one said.

“Govt pretended they care but the gap between rich and poor continues to widen, there is more homelessness and poverty when there should be more social housing, human beings are kept cruelly on Islands for years or sent to NZ away from their families in Australia to solve an Australian problem (that becomes a NZ problem), there should be a treaty with ATSI people and on and on it goes. This country is officially f****d and politicians don’t care.”