Stephen Bates (Brisbane, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Young people are increasingly disenfranchised with the Australian political system. They see government as an institution which actually hampers progress on issues that are of crucial importance to them, namely education, mental health care, climate change and housing. The national School Strike 4 Climate strikes are a powerful example of this. Thousands of young people are taking to the street to demand that their futures are protected by robust action on climate change because they have no other choice but to work outside of the political system.

The same arguments used to lower the voting age to 18 in 1973 are relevant today to 16- and 17-year-olds. They're able to drive cars, work, enlist in the ADF, serve their communities and yet they have no democratic say in the composition of their government or in the economy they will enter into post education.

Young people are heavily impacted by the decisions made by the government of the day. They will inherit the planet, economy and living conditions that we decide for them. Australia has previously led the way in the expansion of democracy, being one of the first countries to give women the right to vote, start the secret ballot and give women the right to run for office before any other jurisdiction. It is time for us to lead the way again; it is time to lower the voting age.