Happiness and Hypocrisy: An Evening of Contradictions in Perth, Reflecting on Australia’s Year of Dissatisfaction
Recently, I attended what promised to be an insightful evening discussing Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH), Bhutan’s unique approach to national well-being, and its connection to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hosted at EY’s new building in Western Australia, the event focused on SDG 3, “Good Health and Well-being.” Intriguingly, the narrative pushed was that 2024 had been Australia’s most dissatisfied year on record, a statement that, as we now stand in 2025, resonates with a growing body of research.
Stepping into the room, a strange feeling of unease washed over me. Perhaps it was the sterile corporate environment, or perhaps a subconscious intuition about the tone of the evening. Before the discussions even began, I found myself wanting to leave, a feeling that, regrettably, only solidified as the night progressed. I stayed, however, to support my partner.
The evening began with an Acknowledgement of Country, a practice that, while vital in its intent, felt somewhat routine given the absence of Indigenous voices or representation in the program and audience. This observation underscored a subtle disconnect between the stated values and the immediate lived experience of the event.
While my partner interacted with some of the panel members, I observed the panel throughout the evening. The only person I directly engaged with was the child movie star, and their presence proved to be the most striking embodiment of the evening’s contradictions. Dressed in traditional attire, they delivered a speech centered on an ambitious project: summiting the highest peak on each continent, collecting melted glacial water in plastic bottles, and filming the process to raise awareness. All while riding their bicycle. They even read a heartfelt letter from a child at the end. Their stated goal was to secure funding and sponsorship for this endeavor with their “cronies.”
However, a glaring hypocrisy emerged. As the discussion panel began, this supposed environmental champion sat at thefront of the audience, conspicuously texting on WhatsApp, having filmed the introduction for content and self promotion purposes. The image of an individual advocating for environmental responsibility while seemingly disengaged and using a device that contributes to the very issues they decried, was jarring. How can one genuinely champion the delicate balance of our planet by advocating for a project that involves extensive international travel – with its significant carbon footprint – and the collection of glacial water in plastic bottles, only to then present these as symbols of environmental consciousness? This act, ostensibly aimed at raising awareness, instead comes across as an ego-driven expedition, leveraging environmental concerns for personal acclaim and financial gain, all while subtly undermining the very message it claims to promote. The irony of highlighting the fragility of glacial ice by deliberately melting it into a material known for its environmental persistence was not lost on me. This phenomenon, often termed “greenwashing” or “virtue signaling,” where environmental concern is displayed for public relations rather than genuine impact, is increasingly scrutinized (Delmas and Burbano, 2011).
Another deeply unsettling moment came from a medic and epidemiologist, a former Australian Person of the Year. When questioned, she alarmingly stated that the world needs another disaster like COVID to bring global attention to climate change experts. This chilling sentiment raises a crucial question: does aging and a perceived decline in relevance reduce individuals to such a level of cynicism, where they openly criticize and admonish world leaders and those who don’t align with their views, even wishing for calamity? It begs for serious reflection on the nature of advocacy and the responsibility of those in influential positions. Such statements, while perhaps intended to shock, can alienate rather than galvanize, undermining the very cause they claim to champion by fostering despair rather than actionable hope (O’Neill, 2007).
The entire experience, frankly, felt gross. It was an evening riddled with incongruities and a profound lack of genuine empathy, despite the overarching theme of happiness and well-being.
The Disconnect of Data and Dukkha
The event’s premise – that 2024 was a year of heightened dissatisfaction for Australians – is indeed supported by various reports. The NAB Australian Wellbeing Survey Q4 2024 indicated that “Wellbeing is back to equal survey lows due to higher anxiety and lower life satisfaction in some key areas,” with financial stress being a significant driver (NAB, 2025). Similarly, the 2024 Australian Unity Wellbeing Index, released in November 2024, reported that “overall life satisfaction in Australia has reached its lowest point in the survey’s 24-year history,” highlighting deep financial and emotional challenges, particularly for younger adults (SEED Lifespan, 2024). The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute’s 2024 Mapping Social Cohesion Report further echoed these concerns, noting declines in trust in government and increasing financial stress, with many Australians feeling “locked out of the housing market” (Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, 2024). While the event failed to articulate this observed trend, the panel’s approach felt out of sync with the gravity of the data that I had to research myself.
This observed dissatisfaction brings to mind the core tenets of Buddhism, particularly the concept of dukkha. Buddhism teaches that suffering (dukkha) is inherent in existence, and that happiness is often fleeting and inextricably linked to sadness, arising from attachment and impermanence. The pursuit of happiness, therefore, is not about acquiring external things or achieving specific metrics, but about understanding the nature of suffering and cultivating inner peace through non-attachment and compassion. As the Buddhist scholar Thich Nhat Hanh often articulated, true happiness (or “well-being”) comes not from external conditions, but from within, through mindfulness and understanding the interconnectedness of all things (Nhat Hanh, 1999).
It leads me to question the efficacy of economists and academics as the sole arbiters of well-being. While their data and analyses are valuable, they often reduce complex human emotions and experiences to quantifiable metrics, failing to grasp the nuanced, subjective, and often contradictory nature of happiness and dissatisfaction. To discuss “gross domestic happiness” from a purely economic or academic lens, while overlooking the very real human elements of empathy, genuine connection, and authentic action, feels profoundly misguided. This aligns with critiques of purely utilitarian approaches to well-being, which can overlook individual subjective experiences and ethical considerations (Sen, 1999). The data on Australia’s dissatisfaction in 2024 paints a picture of systemic issues like cost of living, housing, and declining trust, which cannot be adequately addressed by superficial discussions or self-serving campaigns.
If 2024 was, as the research confirms, a year of significant dissatisfaction for Australians, perhaps it is not because we lack data or expert pronouncements, but because we are becoming increasingly attuned to the disconnect between rhetoric and reality, between lofty goals and self-serving actions. The evening was a stark reminder that true well-being stems not from grand gestures or performative activism, but from genuine intention, consistent action, and a deep understanding of our interconnectedness with each other and the planet. And perhaps, it’s time we look beyond those who profit from our perceived unhappiness and truly listen to the quiet wisdom that challenges the very notion that happiness can be bought, measured, or dictated.
References:
Delmas, M.A. and Burbano, V.C. (2011) ‘The drivers of greenwashing’, California Management Review, 54(1), pp. 64-88.
Fleming, P. (2014) Resisting the global corporation. London: Zed Books.
NAB (2025) NAB Australian wellbeing survey Q4 2024. Available at: https://business.nab.com.au/nab-australian-wellbeing-survey-q4-2024/ (Accessed: 9 June 2025).
Nhat Hanh, T. (1999) The heart of the Buddha’s teaching: transforming suffering into peace, joy, & liberation. Berkeley, Calif.: Harmony.
O’Neill, J. (2007) Markets, deliberation and environment. London: Routledge.
Scanlon Foundation Research Institute (2024) Report reveals nation under strain, but absorbing the pain. Available at: https://www.communitydirectors.com.au/articles/report-reveals-nation-under-strain-but-absorbing-the-pain/ (Accessed: 9 June 2025).
SEED Lifespan (2024) Australians report record low levels of satisfaction with life. Available at: https://seed.deakin.edu.au/2024/11/australians-report-record-low-levels-of-satisfaction-with-life/ (Accessed: 9 June 2025).
Sen, A. (1999) Development as freedom. Oxford: Oxford University Press.