Loneliness and social isolation are shaped by housing, transport, aged care, disability services and community life. A dedicated minister could bring those strands together and make social connection a national policy priority.

In April 2025, two in five Australians reported experiencing loneliness at least some time during the previous week. Behind that statistic are people who may be living alone, disconnected from family, struggling to find a sense of belonging, or simply going through life without enough meaningful human contact.

Loneliness is often treated as a personal experience, but its causes and consequences reach beyond the individual. Housing, transport, community facilities, volunteering, participation and the support available at different stages of life can all influence whether people feel connected.

Australia measures loneliness and social isolation, but responsibility for social connection is spread across many areas of government. Health, aged care, housing, transport, disability, community services and local government each address part of the picture. What is missing is a clear national focus that brings these pieces together.

That is why Australia should consider appointing a minister for loneliness and social connection.

My own understanding of this issue began almost 40 years ago in Canada.

I grew up in Bangladesh in an extended family where three generations commonly lived under the same roof. Parents, grandparents and grandchildren shared a home and many responsibilities of everyday life. Looking after older family members was simply part of family life.

In 1987, I travelled from Kuala Lumpur through Singapore, Bombay, London and Toronto to begin postgraduate study in economics in Canada. I had never lived in a predominantly white Western country and knew nobody there.

During the journey I met a young man named Joey. When he learned that I had no one meeting me at the airport, he........

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