Australians overwhelmingly continue to view multiculturalism and immigration as benefits to the nation despite rising concerns about housing the cost of living, a new study has found.

The Scanlon Research Foundation’s ‘Mapping Social Cohesion 2024’ report found that social cohesion in Australia remained strong despite rising conflict, polarisation and divisiveness across the globe.

The survey found 85 per cent of Australians believed multiculturalism was good for the nation.

Almost half of those surveyed said migration was “too high”, up sharply from 33 per cent last year. But a similar proportion think it’s about right or too low.

However, 76 per cent of respondents disagreed with the proposal that Australia should reject migrants on the basis of race or faith.

Report author Dr James O’Donnell, from Australian National University, said the results were understandable given migration numbers had picked up strongly since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey found high levels of trust among Australians in public services but it was lower in the case of government and media.

It found high levels of a sense of belonging (71 per cent) and financial issues and housing as the two biggest problems people faced.

Forty-one per cent of people said they were either ‘poor, ‘struggling to pay bills’ or ‘just getting by’.

The survey found that, overall, social cohesion was in good shape in Australia.

Dr O’Donnell said social cohesion was holding up well despite a backdrop of cost-of-living pain, conflict in the Middle East, difficult debate following the Voice referendum, and high-profile incidents of violence against women.

“While there has been decline in key areas like trust and sense of safety, and financial stress remains a top concern, the continued strength of our communities may be protecting our sense of wellbeing and harmony,” he said.

And intercultural relations were also strong, with 66 per cent of people agreeing ‘we should do more to learn about different ethnic and cultural groups’.

Eighty-six per cent of people said they ‘liked meeting and getting to know people from other ethnic and cultural groups’ and 59 per cent said they often spend time with people from different ethnic of cultural groups – 56 per cent in the case of Australian-born people.

Eighty per cent said they had two or more close friends from different national, ethnic or religious groups – 76 per cent in the case of Australian-born people.

But the survey found some challenges in terms of intercultural relations.

Thirty-four per cent of Australians born overseas from non-English speaking backgrounds experienced discrimination in the past 12 months.

Forty per cent had been treated differently or less favourably in the past 12 months and 36 per cent had been made to feel like they did belong.

Also, 59 per cent of people felt that racism in Australia was a big, or fairly big, problem. Interestingly, 65 per cent of Australian-born respondents believed this.

The survey found the traditional strengths of social cohesion, such as a sense of belonging, fairness and financial wellbeing were declining, Dr O’Donnell said.

But there were continuing high levels of happiness and a sense of participation, he said.

“We are also seeing growing strengths in the acceptance of multiculturalism and neighbourhood connections,” Dr O’Donnell said.

The economy and housing are the biggest issues facing Australians, the survey found.

While an increasing number of people (49 per cent) said that migration was too high, only two per cent said it was their number one issue.

“In a divided world where migration is a big issue, attitudes to multiculturalism in Australia are still positive,” Dr O’Donnell said.

“Eighty per cent of people believe migrants bring new ideas and culture to Australia. And a similar proportion believe migration is good for the nation’s economy,” he said.

Dr O’Donnell said the conflict in the Middle east had put pressure on interfaith relations.

“Negative attitudes towards Muslims had risen from 27 per cent last year to 34 per cent in 2024. And negative attitudes towards Jewish people had risen from 9 per cent to 13 per cent over the same period,” he said.

 Dr O’Donnell said it was important to monitor social cohesion to be able to respond to pressures emerging in society.

“In a world of conflict, division and economic struggle, Australians are more divided on immigration, are feeling less safe in their communities, are continuing to face financial pressures and feel less positively towards people of different faiths,” he said.

“And yet, neighbourhood and intercultural connections remain high, while happiness, participation and overall social cohesion have been stable over the past year.

“Social cohesion plausibly helps to prevent deeper division while supporting personal wellbeing and social connections.

“Disadvantage and difficult experiences strain social cohesion, so it is important that we respond to these factors,” Dr O’Donnell said.

Read the full report: Mapping Social Cohesion | Scanlon institute