Australians suffer from ‘tall poppy syndrome’

In the original Australian context, the purpose of chopping down a tall poppy is to maintain uniform blossom height. Australian slang has evolved through time to refer to "cutting down" great achievers who stand out in a crowd of average performers.

According to Dr. Rumeet Billan, who thoroughly investigated the subject in a study with Thomson Reuters and Women of Influence, "Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) is a phrase often used in Australia, referring to the assumption that poppies should grow together." "One is chopped down to size if it becomes too tall."

The notion of the "fair go," or the idea that everyone should be given an equal opportunity, is one principle that Australians do hold in high respect. This attitude is demonstrated by the fact that everyone supports publicly financed healthcare and education systems. Australians take pleasure in their ingrained equality, having rejected the ostentatious class structure of their historical motherland, Britain.