The “fair go” has been part of Australia’s psyche for over a century. There was the 1981 Fair Go series about the impact of living with a disability in Australia and the 1999 film The Fair Go: Winning the 1967 Referendum about changing the constitution so First Nations people were included in the census. More recently, in the new ABC series Australia Unmasked, Miriam Margolyes explores the “fair go” in modern-day Australia. The first episode sees Margolyes start in Tasmania, delving into a tapestry of voices and experiences across the state. In the end, she concludes that “the ‘fair go’ doesn’t come easy; it’s something that you have to fight for”.
Our 2021 Navigator survey highlighted a similar sentiment, with less than half the nation saying Australia does well at providing a “fair go”. Yet, despite this poor performance score, the “fair go” remains in the hearts and minds of many, with 76% saying it’s an important aspiration for modern life in Australia.
What’s preventing us from living up to this pillar of Australia’s national identity? Next25’s upcoming snapshot Providing a “Fair Go” for All sheds light on what the “fair go” means to people today to help determine where we are going wrong and what can be done to improve. We investigated the underlying meaning of the 2021 Navigator survey data by interviewing diverse people across the country, with the upcoming snapshot painting a complex story of opportunity and barriers to the “fair go” through their voices.
Discussions led to whether the “fair go” is a myth or reality, what it should look like in practice, whether certain moral conditions should be attached, and more. We found that people’s view of the importance and performance of the “fair go” also vary depending on their gender, location, education, age, employment status, and income.
At a high level, we found a common-ground definition for the “fair go” among myriad perspectives. Three-quarters of interviewees agreed it means that “everyone, including the little guy, should have an equal chance at the basics in life... and if you’ve got more, you should give more.”
Much of the conversation came down to equality versus equity. As one interviewee put it, “equality is everyone getting the same thing, and equity is everyone getting what they need”. Talking to people across the nation, definitions of the “fair go” encapsulate the whole spectrum.
Here’s how some interviewees described the “fair go”:
“A level playing field”
“Enabling people to be themselves”
“Doing right by somebody”
“Everyone wanting to be treated equally”
“Removal of barriers to ensure anyone of any background can achieve their dreams”
“Equitable opportunity to show your competency”
“Everybody has an opportunity, an equal opportunity. It doesn’t guarantee an equal outcome”
“Opportunity for all”
Our upcoming Navigator snapshot Providing a “Fair Go” for All delves more into these themes and beyond. The country is yearning for the “fair go” to be taken more seriously, and the knowledge in this snapshot provides a starting point for improvement.
Providing a “Fair Go” for All will be published early September. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook so you don’t miss it.