Question

Difficulty: HardConcept of a 'Fair Go'

In Australian society, the concept of a 'fair go' is considered a fundamental part of the nation's democratic character. While it is a form of equality, it is distinct from systems that guarantee specific results for all citizens. Within this framework, which of the following statements best explains the relationship between the 'fair go' and an individual’s success?

  1. It ensures that everyone has the same opportunity to succeed, but recognizes that a person's ultimate achievements depend on their own merit and hard work.Answer
  2. B
    It provides a legal guarantee that the government will ensure equal wealth and financial outcomes for all citizens to prevent any inequality in lifestyle.
  3. C
    It suggests that fairness can only be achieved if all citizens agree with one another’s beliefs and values to maintain social harmony.

Answer

The 'fair go' ensures that everyone has the same opportunity to succeed, but recognizes that a person's ultimate achievements depend on their own merit and hard work.
The 'fair go' is a uniquely Australian value that emphasizes equality of opportunity. It means that what someone achieves in life should be the result of their own talent, work, and effort rather than their wealth or background. It accepts that people will have different levels of success (different outcomes) as long as everyone had a fair chance at the start.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core meaning of 'Equality' in the Australian context.
Australia values 'Equality of Opportunity' rather than 'Equality of Outcome'.
The 'fair go' is specifically about the chance to succeed, not a guarantee of the result.
2
Evaluate how success is determined according to this value.
Success should be based on an individual's own talent, work, and effort.
This removes the influence of class, wealth, or background as the primary drivers of success.
3
Distinguish between opportunity and outcome.
Outcomes (like wealth) will vary because people have different talents and work ethics.
The 'fair go' accepts different levels of success as long as the path to that success was open to all equally.

Key Concept

The distinction between equality of opportunity (Fair Go) and equality of outcome.

Hints

1
Think about whether the 'fair go' is about the starting line of a race or the finish line.
2
Consider the role of 'merit' (talent and hard work) in Australian society.
3
The 'fair go' ensures that your background doesn't stop you from succeeding, but it doesn't promise that you will end up with the same wealth as everyone else.

Practice More

Research how the 'fair go' applies to equality of opportunity in education and employment.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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