By Taylor Navarro
Every passing year, we welcome a new entourage of freshly eligible voters. With Gen-Zed entering adulthood and becoming increasingly dominant in our ever-changing society, we may be witnessing an evolution in the way that politics is understood and experienced. So, I decided to ask some fellow Zedders for their thoughts on the recent election.
“As a first-time voter and certified political outcast, I walked into the polling booth with nothing other than vibes. It’s no surprise I had little understanding about what choice to make on election day. Greens? Labor? Shooters, Fishers and Farmers? It was like receiving requests from profiles with no pictures – asking for my trust, and I barely knew what they stood for.
I’m not alone in this. Most of us teens go from high school exams straight into choosing the next Prime Minister, like sorry? I just learnt that taxes are a real thing, and now I’m supposed to decide the fate of the nation? I know I showed up with vague impressions shaped by TikToks, headlines and family rants. Heck, I was adopting my housemates values on the bus ride there.
In the end, I left the booth just as confused as I entered.
This disconnect is part of why so many young voters feel left out. We’re out here facing real crises – a melting globe, rent prices that require a second job, and the terrifying cost of an iced matcha… Often we don’t see ourselves reflected in any of the major parties. When the people asking for your vote don’t seem to know what your life is like, how are you supposed to feel seen or empowered?
So yes, I voted and I was confused the entire time.
But here’s the thing: confusion is fine, apathy isn’t. The system probably wants us to be disengaged. The more clueless we are, the more likely they’ll stay doing… whatever it is they’re doing.
So before the next election, let’s all try to get a little more informed. Read some policies. Watch a debate. Google the weird party names!!
Because if we don’t speak up, someone who thinks eggs are $4 just might. *cough cough*”
Emma — Uni Student, 18yrs
“The results of this election surprised me, in a positive way. After all, the polls suggested a near 50/50 split in the two party preferred vote leading up to the election, and we have seen other countries with similar political landscapes, like Canada, have election results on razor thin margins. As a young voter, I think a shift towards Labor broadly reflects the views of our generation, despite global trends suggesting some young demographics voting conservatively, and was widely expected by people within my social circles. What shocked me most, however, was the massive shift away from the Liberals overall, particularly by former Liberal safe havens like the wealthier parts of our inner cities. During the campaign, the coalition has been internally divided over its policy direction, with Dutton being extremely vague and unclear about many policies that mattered to people, which is what may have unsettled moderate voters who valued the party’s traditional stability. I think this was most clearly shown in Dutton losing his own seat! Overall, this is a result which shocked me, but is also a result I am okay with. Having such a landslide of an election shows that people are putting their trust in Labor, but the moves they will make without significant opposition will definitely be something to look out for.
Kai —Uni Student, 18yrs
The results of the recent election were surprising to say the least. More than any political outcome, I was most surprised by the new generation’s desire to inform themselves before casting a vote, and take the time to research what each party stands for and the way our lives as citizens would be impacted.
Ruby — Uni Student, 18yrs
As a teenager not eligible to vote yet, the federal election results feel distant, yet the decisions made directly impact my future. The policies being made shape the Australia all of us will grow up in. I may not fully understand each policy, however I hope that the elected government will represent the needs and requirements of each and every generation; from the youngest to the oldest.
Sasha —Year 12, 17yrs
Democracy finally delivered—and as a bonus, I no longer have to endure Sue Ellen’s overly rehearsed campaign smile haunting my screen. It’s like winning the election and canceling a bad reality show in one glorious weekend. Honestly, I haven’t felt this relievedsince pineapple got kicked off the pizza debate.
Mia — Year 10, 16yrs
I don’t really know enough about Australian politics, but I know which candidates / parties appealed the most to me; Labor party and the Greens. The Greens mostly because of their campaigns for environmentalism and the fact that they didn’t hesitate to speak about the conflict in the Middle East. I knew I didn’t want Liberal to be the winning party though, because I heard that they wanted to privatise Medicare. Although the election results weren’t my completely desired results, they were predictable because one of the two main parties was most likely to win, and at least it was Labor over Liberal.
Charlotte —Year 10, 16yrs
*Names changed for privacy.