Page 4093 - Week 13 - Thursday, 2 December 2021
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The decisions being made in parliament today affect the lives of young people in the present and into the future. It is the responsibility of governments to empower the next generation to be involved in these decisions that will impact them. In a healthy democracy, young people are supported to be engaged and active public citizens. This bill will bolster the democratic engagement of young people, by empowering 16- and 17-year-olds through the right to vote in ACT elections.
The views and interests of young people are paramount when it comes to the decisions about their future. Governments have a responsibility to support their communities to engage in our democratic systems. Research conducted by the Whitlam Institute found that young people are increasingly invested in the politics of their local communities. The institute also demonstrated that political participation by young people is taking place not just in person but on digital platforms.
Just last week, I was on an online panel hosted by Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, where we spoke about the engagement of young people in contemporary Australian politics. I was pleased to see that many young people from across the country attended and engaged thoughtfully through this platform.
The Greens are not the only party who have noticed young people’s engagement online. I commend the efforts of my colleague Mr Parton for engagement on the social media platform TikTok. This demonstrates the Canberra Liberals’ understanding that young people are increasingly engaged in political conversations.
Young people have a high degree of political awareness, and it is time they had the right to vote. A recent survey conducted by the Youth Coalition of the ACT found that a majority of young people supported being empowered to vote. In our consultation with the Youth Coalition on this issue, the CEO, Dr Justin Barker, commended this bill as an important move to ensure that 16- and 17-year-olds have a say in political decisions being made about them. He told us:
This Bill is a step in the right direction of ensuring 16 and 17 year olds have a say in political decisions being made about them in the ACT. I look forward to contributing to the community conversation that follows the tabling of this Bill to ensure that young people are engaged in our democratic system with adequate protections for those facing hardship.
This bill responds to the many community voices that have come to my office asking us to strengthen avenues for participation in our democracy. The 2020 ACT election saw the ACT Greens hit the polling booths with an ambitious policy platform that raised the voices and concerns of young people.
Not only did we go to the election with a commitment to empower 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, but by framing the election as one about climate change and the ongoing housing affordability crisis, the ACT Greens made this an election for young people. My expectation is that after this legislation comes into effect, all parties across the political spectrum will begin to genuinely engage on the needs of young people.
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