By Denis Hay
Description
Explore the top 10 social issues in Australia in 2025, their causes, and how public money can solve them for a fairer future.
🎧 Prefer to listen to this article? Press play
Introduction: Why Social Issues Matter Now
Picture a young family struggling to keep up with rent while grocery prices climb weekly, or a rural patient waiting months for critical surgery. These aren’t isolated stories; they reflect deep, persistent social issues in Australia that affect millions.
Social issues are the barriers that prevent people from enjoying equal rights, opportunities, and quality of life. In 2025, these challenges are still urgent. By identifying the top social issues in Australia, we can advocate for solutions that utilise public funds to enhance the lives of all Australians
In this article, we’ll explore:
- The 10 major social issues shaping our nation today.
- The real-life impacts on Australian communities.
- How Australia’s monetary sovereignty makes fixing them possible.
The Problem: Why Australians Feel Left Behind
Despite decades of economic growth, too many Australians face daily struggles that could be solved with the right priorities. These unresolved social issues in Australia are symptoms of deeper systemic failures. Corporate influence, privatisation, and policy inaction have allowed inequality to grow.
- Housing Affordability Crisis
Public housing stock has plummeted while rents and house prices soar. Governments have prioritised developer profits over affordable housing.
Related reading: Housing Crisis in Australia
- Cost of Living Pressures
Groceries, fuel, and electricity prices are rising faster than wages. Corporate profiteering plays a major role, yet political responses focus on “tightening belts” rather than systemic change.
Related reading: Inflation in Australia
- Indigenous Rights and Sovereignty
Closing the Gap targets are still unmet. Many Indigenous communities lack basic infrastructure, healthcare, and respect for land rights.
Related reading: Indigenous Knowledge for Environmental Future
- Climate Change and Environmental Protection
Extreme weather events are becoming more severe, yet fossil fuel expansion continues. Corporate donations often influence environmental policy in ways that harm the public good.
- Gender Inequality
Women still earn less than men for the same work. Domestic violence services are still underfunded despite demand increasing every year.
- Healthcare Inequity
Medicare is under strain. Patients face long wait times, and rural communities struggle to access doctors and specialists.
- Education Inequality
Instead of exclusively funding public schools, governments continue to direct public money to private institutions. Access to TAFE and universities is uneven, with HECS debt deterring students from lower-income backgrounds.
- Refugee and Asylum Seeker Rights
Offshore detention, slow visa processing, and prolonged uncertainty violate basic human rights and cause long-term harm.
- Worker Exploitation and Job Insecurity
Wage theft, insecure contracts, and declining union protections leave many workers vulnerable.
- Political Corruption and Corporate Influence
Large political donations from powerful industries shape legislation in ways that often harm ordinary Australians.
Related reading: How Citizens Can Lead a Groundswell for Real Political Change
The Impact: How These Issues Affect Everyday Life
These social issues in Australia don’t exist in isolation. High housing costs worsen poverty. Insecure work makes it harder to afford healthcare or education. Climate inaction hits the most vulnerable first.
When social issues in Australia are left unresolved:
- Inequality deepens across generations.
- Economic participation drops.
- Public trust in politics erodes.
The social and economic costs of inaction far outweigh the investments needed to fix these problems.
The Solution: Using Australia’s Dollar Sovereignty to Fix Social Issues
Australia is a currency-issuing nation, which means we can solve even the most urgent social issues in Australia. This means we can fund solutions without “finding” the money through higher taxes or budget cuts first. Public money can and should be used to:
- Build quality public housing at scale.
- Fully fund Medicare and rural health services.
- Expand public education and abolish HECS debt.
- Invest in Indigenous led programs.
- Transition to renewable energy and protect the environment.
These investments strengthen our economy, improve wellbeing, and uphold the social justice principles that underpin a fair society.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the major social issues in Australia in 2025?
Housing affordability, cost of living, Indigenous rights, climate change, gender inequality, healthcare, education, refugee rights, worker exploitation, and political corruption.
Q: How can social issues be addressed effectively?
Through strong public investment, transparent governance, and policies that prioritise people over profit.
Q: Why is public money important for solving social issues?
As a nation with monetary sovereignty, Australia can use its currency-issuing capacity to fully fund solutions without relying solely on private markets.
Final Thoughts: Building a Fairer Nation
The top social issues in Australia are not inevitable; they are the result of political choices. In 2025, we can reverse decades of neglect by demanding public investment in housing, healthcare, education, Indigenous rights, and environmental protection.
When we use our dollar sovereignty to invest in people, we can address the most pressing social issues in Australia and build a stronger, fairer, and more resilient nation.
What’s Your Experience?
Have you been directly affected by any of these social issues? Share your story in the comments; your perspective can inspire change.
Call to Action
We’d Love to Hear from You!
Inspired by this article?
See what others are saying on our Reader Testimonials page.
Share your thoughts via our Reader Feedback form – your voice helps shape future content.
Scroll down and leave a comment below to join the discussion.
If this article resonated with you, explore more on political reform and Australia’s monetary sovereignty at Social Justice Australia.
Spread the word
Share this article with your community to help drive the conversation toward a more just and equal society.
Remember: as a nation with dollar sovereignty, Australia can invest public money to serve public purpose. Tell your MP you support that.
Keep Independent Journalism Alive. Support Voices That Challenge the Status Quo
We’re 100% reader-supported, no ads, no corporate strings, just honest, truth-driven journalism.
If our work informs or inspires you, please chip in.
Donate Now, one-time or monthly. Even $5 helps us keep publishing.
Together, we’re making change possible.
Already donated? Share the love, by leaving us a quick review on Google to help others find us.
Question for Readers
Which social issue would you fix first if you controlled Australia’s public investment – housing, health, education, or climate?
Sources
- ipsos.com – Ipsos Issues Monitor Australia https://www.ipsos.com/en-au/issuesmonitor
- abs.gov.au – Australian Bureau of Statistics: Income and Wealth Distribution https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics
- acoss.org.au – Australian Council of Social Service: Poverty in Australia Snapshot https://www.acoss.org.au
This article was originally published on Social Justice Australia
Dear reader, we need your support
Independent sites such as The AIMN provide a platform for public interest journalists. From its humble beginning in January 2013, The AIMN has grown into one of the most trusted and popular independent media organisations.
One of the reasons we have succeeded has been due to the support we receive from our readers through their financial contributions.
With increasing costs to maintain The AIMN, we need this continued support.
Your donation – large or small – to help with the running costs of this site will be greatly appreciated.
You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969
Im in solidarity with the 10 point Social Issues that Denis rightly alludes to .
I can only just stand in agreement with all the well researched data and observations, I dont have any formal educational Back ground ( just the school of Hard Knocks )
All i know is , Social Justice is in my DNA and just lend support to Denis Hay’s great work on the topic .
Just to Ad – lib , I think social Security and the welfare system needs reforming, Nothing has changed since John Howard was last in , And the Dead End , cul de sac , WORK for the Mole , Dole, is still the festering sore and Puntive scouge on the Un-employed and no humane and decent proposal to end this Criminal Scheme !!!!!. Just saying .
A Job guarantee Or a Modern day Red scheme Or A Job Creation- Investment Scheme .For – Long term unemployed , youth , Indigenous ,Migrants , disability and those in transition from drug and Alcohol dependacy ,mature age .
The rational behind a Job Creation -Investment scheme , is there is no income taxes paid via Work for the Mole , dole , meaning, its a waste of tax payers money , But if you paid the unemployed a correct wage and entitlements through a Job Creation Scheme , Funded by the private and federal Sectors and they would gain a guaranteed return on their investment through in-come taxes flowing back ,
They, the un-employed, would be contributing taxes to the economy ,thus improving PRODUCTIVITY and contributing to society through income taxes and help fund other much needed vital services and distributed accordingly .
so , by investing in the unemployed , you can lift- Productivity ! ,boost the Integrity and dignity of the side lined- Unemployed and help Social inclusion and social Justice and lift this Demographic – out of the poverty or below the poverty line ,!!!!…………..
IN a country like Australia , we love the phrase , A fair go , Mate .
Fair Go, can only be realised when its Fair Go for All , Not just Some ! ……..
Cheers and God bless -All the Social Justice warriors that re-inforce the message – Social Justice in Action = social cohesion and a harmonic balance for all , once the goals are realised ……………….
Thanks, Jano, I appreciate your solidarity and the passion you bring to this. You’ve painted a strong picture of why a genuine Job Guarantee or large-scale job creation program would transform lives, restore dignity, and strengthen communities.
I agree that Work for the Dole has been punitive and ineffective for decades, and that real, fairly paid jobs with proper entitlements would be far better for productivity, inclusion, and well-being.
The only point I see differently is on the funding side. Many people understandably think our federal government’s ability to invest in jobs or services is limited by the amount of taxes collected. In reality, because Australia issues its own currency, federal spending is not directly “funded” by income tax. Taxes play a different role, helping to manage inflation and shaping behaviour, but they don’t provide the dollars the government spends.
That means a Job Guarantee could be funded right now, without needing to “find” the money first, and the benefits would flow not only in productivity but in stronger social cohesion, the “fair go for all” you rightly call for.
Thank You , Denis ..
Much appreciated in all the above ,it was nice you could disect what i wrote up with much clarity, I can see how professional and knowledgable you are .
In terms of the funding side , I dont really have much Grasp of how the Government (Local , State , and Federal ) allocate these funds for things like the social safety net , thats why i suggested using income tax from earnings ,
But i know you know the workings of Government and have an astute understanding of how taxes are destributed across the country ,etc.
so ,i am willing to be taught these things to gain a better Understanding on how the economey works and, in particular ,how it relates to The Public good and social Justice and fair wealth distribution spread out fairly for all .
It would be nice if ( Job Guarantee and or job creation programmes) could make its way back on the agenda and be for ever rid of the puntitive welfare and its Starvation Wages !! ..that in my view , has over welcomed its stay ( since 1994 )
I look forward to more of your social justice articles and informative and enlightening reading and thank you so much for the heartening reply
Regards jano..