Donald Horne famously called Australia “the Lucky Country,” suggesting our prosperity came more from chance than from careful planning or vision. The stark reality, however, is Australia’s “luck” has often been shaped by short-term, extractive decisions aimed at immediate gain for a privileged few; choices that carried both intended and unintended consequences. From colonial land grabs to policies that excluded non-British migrants, these decisions concentrated wealth, restricted opportunity, and left lasting social and economic gaps. Australia could have been the Lucky Country by design—but too often, it chose the opposite path. Can we learn from history?
History shows that nations thrive not when they hoard resources, but when they invest in inclusion, harness diverse skills, and build institutions that endure beyond the next quarter or election cycle. During the earliest days of European settlement, wealth was measured in land, wool, and gold, while Indigenous peoples were dispossessed, the environment simply a source of “unlimited” resources, and migrants from non-British countries were restricted. George Megalogenis observes that the White Australia policy “became the wrong answer to almost every problem … and then the wrong message to send the world when they finally formed a federation in 1901.” The result was a society rich in resources but limited in social cohesion, innovation, and long-term resilience.
The narrative overlooked, and one that we can learn from, is that it is inclusion that transforms opportunity into lasting prosperity. The gold rushes of the 1850’s generated enormous wealth through extraction, but the real impact came from the migrants who arrived to mine, build, and innovate. Chinese, German, Italian, and American arrivals brought skills in engineering, commerce, construction, and finance, helping to build infrastructure, transport networks, and thriving urban centres. Megalogenis notes, “More ships sailed to Melbourne in 1852 than to any other port in the world,” and by the end of the decade, Australians “officially became the richest people in the world, overtaking the British and the Dutch on the measure of GDP per person.” It was not the gold alone, but the combination of resources and the diverse skills and labour of newcomers that created enduring prosperity.
The post-World War II period offers another vivid example. Faced with the threat of underpopulation, Australia welcomed nearly two million migrants from Southern and Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1965. These arrivals did more than fill demographic gaps—they drove industrial expansion, built infrastructure, and enriched commerce. One-third of new manufacturing jobs went to overseas-born workers, while the iconic Snowy Mountains Scheme employed 100,000 people from over 30 countries, creating a hydroelectric and irrigation network that still underpins Australia’s economy. Megalogenis emphasises, “Our standard of living depends on the migrant… the migrant that lands is going to contribute 10 to 15 per cent more to the national income than the existing population.” Migrants brought skills in engineering, agriculture, and management—building industries, institutions, and knowledge that fuelled long-term growth.
Conversely, when Australia retreated into exclusion, the consequences were evident. The White Australia policy, protectionist tariffs, and cultural conservatism slowed innovation and economic development for decades. Megalogenis warns, “Retreat into a fortress society is rarely successful.” Decisions aimed at protecting short-term interests and cultural homogeneity left untapped potential and created social and economic fragility.
Today, Australia faces a new crossroads. In the past fortnight, thousands of Australians participated in anti-immigration rallies across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, organised under the “March for Australia” banner. Protesters expressed concerns about housing and infrastructure, carrying slogans such as “Take our country back” and “Stop mass immigration.” The rallies also drew far-right groups, leading to clashes and heightened tensions. The government condemned the demonstrations, describing them as “far-right activism grounded in racism and ethnocentrism,” emphasizing that such sentiments have no place in Australian society. These events reveal a recurring challenge: many fail to see that migrants bring not just population, but skills, innovation, and enterprise that underpin long-term prosperity.
If Australia is to truly become the Lucky Country it must confront not only its history of exclusion but also the present-day grievances that threaten social cohesion. The rise in anti-immigration sentiment, as seen in recent rallies, is not just a rejection of diversity—it is a manifestation of deeper social pain. Housing insecurity, stagnant wages, and a sense of being left behind are real concerns. But when these issues are ignored or dismissed, they become fertile ground for scapegoating and division.
This is where social justice must lead. Inclusion is not only about welcoming newcomers—it is about ensuring fairness for all, especially those who feel unheard. We must ask: Why are some Australians turning to exclusionary policies as a solution? What unmet needs, broken systems, or historical wounds are driving this response?
Ignoring these questions risks repeating the mistakes of history. In pre-Nazi Germany, economic despair and social fragmentation were exploited to justify exclusion and violence. In the U.S., the MAGA movement grew from communities feeling abandoned by globalisation and automation. Brexit was fuelled by a sense of lost sovereignty and economic inequality. In each case, social injustice was misdiagnosed as a cultural threat, and migrants became the scapegoats.
The lessons of history are clear. Nations thrive when they welcome newcomers, tap into diverse talents, and invest in inclusion. They falter when they retreat into exclusivity and hoard resources. Megalogenis reminds us, “Australia now has its second chance to prosper, and its success will depend in part on whether we remain welcoming to new arrivals.” True prosperity has never been about luck; it is earned through openness, inclusiveness, and the courage to embrace difference.
Australia can do better. We must listen to communities, not to validate exclusion, but to understand and address the root causes of their grievances. That means investing in affordable housing, fair wages, mental health, and education—not just for migrants, but for all Australians. It means recognising that social cohesion is built through justice, not silence or suppression.
Inclusion, then, is not just an economic strategy—it is a moral and civic commitment to fairness. It is about building a society where everyone, regardless of background, has a stake in the future. Where prosperity is shared, not hoarded. Where difference is embraced, not feared. And where the voices of the marginalised—whether long-time residents or new arrivals—are heard, respected, and acted upon.
Australia still has the chance to be the Lucky Country—not by accident, but by choosing justice, equity, and inclusion as the foundation of its future, If we recognise that the real source of enduring wealth lies in the skills, labour, and creativity of all those who contribute to building a society in which everyone belongs, contributes, and thrives together.