The Greens Have Introduced a Bill to Lower the Voting Age to 16

Is it a good idea?

It’s the first day of parliament this year, and things are already heating up.

Greens MP for Brisbane Stephen Bates has put the work in already and introduced a bill to parliament to lower the Australian voting age from 18 to 16.

This has been a long-time policy for the greens, and Bates’ bill represents a renewed push to enfranchise young Australians.

Back in November, the New Zealand Supreme Court found the voting age of 18 was discriminatory to 16 and 17-year olds, and forced the government to consider lowering the age.

Back then, we asked Student Edge members what they thought about the move.

Here’s what they said:

• 46 per cent said Australia should do the same.
• 54 per cent said they’d vote in an election as a 16-year-old.
• 87 per cent said young people needed to be heard in politics more.

Bates has argued young people are politically engaged in today’s age, with issues like climate change, healthcare, housing, injustice and social issues all on young Australians’ minds.

“Lowering the voting age to 16 gives young people the opportunity to have a real say over the politics and policies that will impact them for the rest of their lives,” he told parliament.

“Young people are desperate to make their voices heard.”

Countries like Malta, Switzerland, Austria, Wales and Scotland have all extended suffrage (the right to vote) to under 18s in recent years.

If successful, Bates’ proposal would make voting compulsory for 16- and 17-year-olds.

However, unlike for over-18s, there wouldn’t be any punishment for not voting.

The Greens previously backed a committee into the move in 2018 for optional voting for 16- and 17- year-olds.

Back then, the proposal itself was rejected, but certain Labor members expressed support for the principle of youth voting.

The new bill is also backed by the not-for-profit Make it 16 Australia. Tabitha Stephenson-Jones, an organiser with the campaign, said “Young people can be the voice of the future, but only if we are invited to the table and given the opportunity to do so”.

Although they’ve previously expressed support, it seems like the Labor party isn’t in favour of the current proposal, instead choosing to focus on more pressing matters.

Without backing from the government or opposition, it’s unlikely the new bill will pass, but supporters are suggesting shining a light on young voices in politics is a step in the right direction.