Why citizens in such a wealthy country are angry and depressed

As Alan Austin points out, some Australians are becoming sadder as their quality of life improves.

TWICE IN TWO WEEKS, this column shocked the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABSs) — the hallowed institution we constantly rely on for economic and demographic information.

We love ABS. The numerous publications over the decades were all timely, comprehensive, and accurate. So why did it bother us?

As regular readers know, we track all key economic variables and have reported that most of the results for 2025 are quite positive, both historically and relative to comparable economies.

Focus on housing

Housing construction is a critical indicator, given increasing pressure on governments to provide homes for new homebuyers and alleviate homelessness.

That’s why we were waiting for the December construction figures to be released last Wednesday, expecting this to show continued progress. We were surprised when it happened ABS website It was claimed that: ‘The construction works are carried out in December.’

However, when we analyzed the data, it turned out that despite a small decline in the December quarter (only a 0.12% decrease), the results for the entire calendar year were excellent.

Like meA. Total construction of $298 billion for the 2024-25 fiscal year, reported last September, continued its three-year rise but was still below the all-time high recorded during the massive rebuilding effort in 2012-13. Global Financial Crisis.

When we finally crunched Wednesday’s numbers, it turns out that calendar 2025 is the best year yet in terms of total construction, beating even 2013. See the table below.

So why the negative headline? Yes, the December quarter was slightly below the previous two quarters. This is not surprising. Construction decisions are made every three months by tens of thousands of business executives, small business operators, and local, state and federal public officials. So naturally output fluctuates.

There have been three quarter-to-quarter declines in the last three years, but they have all been offset by increases before and after.

This was actually the second such experience with ABS in February. two weeks ago meA. released this analysis of consumer spending showing luxury spending including cosmetics, jewelry, beauty salons and dining out. rose By 2025, 22.8% of all retail spending will reach a record high. This was further evidence that the Coalition’s cost of living crisis was over and living standards were rising steadily.

Disturbingly, the ABS version of the day -headed, ‘Household expenditures decreased by 0.4 percent in December’. Once again the data was completely accurate, but the wording in the media release seemed chosen to convey doom and gloom.

National broadcaster continues its lies

ABS is not alone. Unfortunately, other institutions are in much worse shape. ABC News It has developed various disturbing patterns of behavior that affect citizens’ happiness and social harmony.
The first and most obvious of these is the Federal Coalition’s obsession with internal affairs.

As most psephologists do observedCoalition parties, which have 41 representatives in the 150-seat lower house, will not be able to influence any legislation for at least the next two, most likely three and possibly four terms.

Shire of Wagait There are five councilors serving a population of 481 in the Northern Territory. These councilors will make more decisions affecting the lives of real Australians over the next decade than anyone else in the federal Liberal or National parties, and so will the councils of the other 536 local authorities.

ABC News must give Federal Coalition MPs proportionate coverage to elected officials serving Wagait.

Even more troubling, ABC News routinely publishes lies about the Australian economy.A. observed here, here, here and elsewhere.

one episode World Today Last Thursday titled ‘Struggle to reduce inflation’ It started like this:

“War lines are being drawn between Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his new deputy, Tim Wilson.”

This is complete nonsense. those who read Jim Chalmers‘daily transcripts know he barely gave the Shadow Treasurer TimWilson a temporary thought. Wilson had to make a quick attack when he first attacked Chalmers. retreat.

ABC quoted Wilson as saying:

“Inflation reflects what happens whenever the Government [spends] “Too much… They are pouring more debt fuel into the inflation fire.”

This is not true. The ABC wants listeners to forget that inflation remains above 8% for all but two quarters of the year Malcolm FraserIt’s been seven years. Inflation as soon as 2022 rose It rose to 8.44% within the scope of coalition policies. Today’s 3.76% is nowhere close to being an “inflation fever.”

Richer-than-ever residents now want to destroy the common

As has been routinely reported over the past three years, the Australian economy has moved further ahead of the rest of the world with each monthly or quarterly data update. No other economy has experienced such a sustained decline unemployedLow inflationtemperate interest Rates are stable GDP growthLow tax rateshigh presence per person and maximum credit ratings.

Currently 10% in Australian dollars higher Foreign trips will now be much longer and more luxurious against most currencies than they were just a few months ago.

Few consumers of Australia’s mainstream news outlets seem to know these facts. This is very sad because it undermines trust in the country’s institutions, destroys optimism about the future, and reduces enjoyment of life in the present.

This is reflected worryingly in the latest poll results from a political consultancy firm Kizilkopru.

Voters were asked:

‘Which of the following statements best represents your view of the political system? Small change, big change, doesn’t it need any change, or should it burn it all to ashes?’

Disturbingly, 15% of those polled said “burn them all down.” Why are these people so unhappy?

In search of hopeful harmony, IA. He wrote to the Bureau of Statistics last week to question its choice of the December construction report.

He replied immediately and cheerfully:

‘Hello Alan. Thanks for your feedback, we’ll note it for next time. Best, ABS Media.’

Now who can say it more justly?

Alan Austin is an Independent Australian columnist and freelance journalist. You can follow him on Twitter @alanaustin001 and Bluesky @alanaustin.bsky.social.

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