A society where young people are empowered to make political decisions, and where political parties are dedicated to making the best policies for young people will ensure a positive future for Australia as a whole. That's why we submitted to the Committee on Electoral Matters Inquiry into the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill.
We have recommended that the Parliament allow those aged 16 and 17 to vote on a voluntary basis, and that this be supported with improved education in civics at school. This would allow young people passionate about issues to engage in the political process and ensure that politicians pay attention to their voices and their needs.
Young people are passionate about issues, and voter turnout overseas demonstrates that when given the opportunity, young people aged 16 and 17 are much more likely to use their right to vote than those aged 18–24.