And a majority of people across the nation think “if you have a go, you’ll get a go.”

But those who work on the frontlines of poverty reduction almost unanimously say the notion that hard work alone can lift someone out of poverty is just plain wrong.

“So, we can certainly see people who are the exceptions, and all those wonderful stories about people beating the odds are heart-warming because they’re exceptional.”

via Is hard work enough to lift anyone out of poverty? This question divides the nation – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)