Fewer Australians than ever voted for a major party in the last federal election, a trend that has been growing over the past decade. Now, fuelled by rising political disillusionment, Gen Z voters are looking beyond the traditional two-party system. This year, alongside Millennials, they’re set to outnumber Baby Boomers at the ballot box for the first time.
In a poll of almost 300 young voters conducted by Honi Soit, 75 per cent stated that their lower house first preference vote would not be for a major party. So, we decided to take the conversation further and ask them about the issues and frustrations that will decide their vote on election day.
In a pool of 31 respondents aged between 18 and 26, concerns mainly centre on two stressors: the cost of living and housing. Both are mentioned 20 times each. Renting, coupled with housing supply and demand issues, is frequently mentioned alongside the cost of groceries, transportation, and leisure. One respondent states “everything just feels so expensive”. Mentions of other worries are peppered throughout responses, including the environment, HECS-HELP debt, mental health, and the job market.
The issues on their minds, many young voters state, are overlooked by the major parties. When asked if they believed politicians understood or cared about their concerns, over half (17) of respondents answered ‘no’. To them, politicians are driven by self-interest; one beholden to big donors, lobbyists, and corporate influence.
“There are a number of politicians who absolutely lose touch with their electorate and understand the issue as something on paper rather than on a human level.”
Some young voters also stated that many politicians lacked the courage to address their concerns or failed to grasp the consequence of their impact: “I know that the cost of living is impacting most voters, and that is a huge focus of campaigning at the moment, but it doesn’t feel that they are really aware of the severity of the problem.” Another respondent likened these issues to mere political “buzzwords.”
This sense of political detachment was often adjoined by a growing worry for future generations. Several respondents spoke about the fear of escalating housing costs, climate change, and systemic inequality. A prevailing sentiment was that politicians were “out of touch” with young people, preoccupied by short-term concerns at the expense of the long-term challenges that lie ahead.
With dissatisfaction toward the two-party structure at the forefront, respondents were asked whether they had considered voting for a minor party or an independent candidate. Many expressed hope that a third-party vote would cast a message: one of disillusionment and a longing for real change. One voter said that they hoped that their vote would send a “clear signal” that they want more progressive action from Labor.
Another respondent stated, “It comes to a point in my life, like many others, where we’ve realised that the major parties are not listening to the needs of the general public and politicians in those parties are more concerned about sticking to party policies.”
Other respondents emphasized impracticality and stated that real change is only attainable through major parties. “While I agree with a few teal or green policies, they will never realistically form [a] government,” one respondent stated.
When asked what single issue would decide their vote on election day, most respondents struggled to name just one. Many returned to the cost of living, yet they also listed education, climate change, and Australia’s foreign policy, particularly AUKUS and support for Palestine. Others wished for a leader that would “follow through on promises,” that would lead with honesty and competence. Their answers mirror a feeling shared by young voters around the nation: that politics should meet the moment, but right now, it’s falling short.
