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| Election 2013: first-time voters on what matters to them | Election 2013: first-time voters on what matters to them |
| (25 days later) | |
| Ben Hansen, 20, journalism and politics student, Melbourne | Ben Hansen, 20, journalism and politics student, Melbourne |
| Tony Abbott and his team are the perfect fit for our future. | Tony Abbott and his team are the perfect fit for our future. |
| As a first-time voter, I often get asked if I'm confused at all on who to vote for in the upcoming federal election. For me, the short answer is no. I'm a strong supporter of the Coalition and believe it's time to start putting some money back into the commonwealth's bank account. I personally don't want to have to deal with the issue of our nation's debt well into 2020. I believe Tony Abbott and his team are the perfect fit for our future, no matter how many times Kevin Rudd says otherwise. | As a first-time voter, I often get asked if I'm confused at all on who to vote for in the upcoming federal election. For me, the short answer is no. I'm a strong supporter of the Coalition and believe it's time to start putting some money back into the commonwealth's bank account. I personally don't want to have to deal with the issue of our nation's debt well into 2020. I believe Tony Abbott and his team are the perfect fit for our future, no matter how many times Kevin Rudd says otherwise. |
| Saying that, though, there are many things that Mr Abbott and I don't agree on. I believe we need to have a stronger policy on climate change. There's no reason why we can't lead the world into a greener future, and surely we're in a better position to do this than any other OECD country – considering we were one of the only developed nations not to go into recession during the global financial crisis. I also think the ALP need to get their act together in regards to climate change. | Saying that, though, there are many things that Mr Abbott and I don't agree on. I believe we need to have a stronger policy on climate change. There's no reason why we can't lead the world into a greener future, and surely we're in a better position to do this than any other OECD country – considering we were one of the only developed nations not to go into recession during the global financial crisis. I also think the ALP need to get their act together in regards to climate change. |
| My biggest gripe about the two major parties, however, is that their policy towards asylum seekers is inhumane and cruel. Put plainly, the policies put forward by both the Coalition and Labor disgust me. Asylum seekers have huge potential in the workforce, which would lead to all those lovely tax dollars that the government so loves. | My biggest gripe about the two major parties, however, is that their policy towards asylum seekers is inhumane and cruel. Put plainly, the policies put forward by both the Coalition and Labor disgust me. Asylum seekers have huge potential in the workforce, which would lead to all those lovely tax dollars that the government so loves. |
| And finally, Mr Rudd, please stop posting photos on Instagram like that one of you with a cut after shaving. Young people aren't stupid. We know exactly what you're trying to do. | And finally, Mr Rudd, please stop posting photos on Instagram like that one of you with a cut after shaving. Young people aren't stupid. We know exactly what you're trying to do. |
| David Power, 18, student, Riverina, New South Wales | David Power, 18, student, Riverina, New South Wales |
| Environment policy is a slap in the face. | Environment policy is a slap in the face. |
| My first federal election has been a rather bleak affair so far. If anything has been confirmed, it's that transformative or truly progressive leadership will always be wrecked by western Sydney. The media may bill election 2013 as a tough competition, but many issues have taken on a sickly bipartisanism. | My first federal election has been a rather bleak affair so far. If anything has been confirmed, it's that transformative or truly progressive leadership will always be wrecked by western Sydney. The media may bill election 2013 as a tough competition, but many issues have taken on a sickly bipartisanism. |
| Tony Abbott's outflanking of Kevin Rudd on the right was a shock. It showed a desperation to pander to polls instead of protecting the most needy in the global community. Almost as worrying is the infiltration of the phrases "illegal" and "economic immigrant" into the vocabulary of both parties. | Tony Abbott's outflanking of Kevin Rudd on the right was a shock. It showed a desperation to pander to polls instead of protecting the most needy in the global community. Almost as worrying is the infiltration of the phrases "illegal" and "economic immigrant" into the vocabulary of both parties. |
| Labor takes the front foot in the environmental line, with their plans for the continuation of the emissions trading scheme. While it seems revolutionary when compared with the Coalition's laughable "direct action" policy, the ETS is still no great leap in combating climate change. | Labor takes the front foot in the environmental line, with their plans for the continuation of the emissions trading scheme. While it seems revolutionary when compared with the Coalition's laughable "direct action" policy, the ETS is still no great leap in combating climate change. |
| Many of the concessions to mining companies – particularly in regard to the Tarkine – dampen that spirit of conservation and transformation. Such indolence in regard to the environment cannot help feel like a slap in the face for future generations, including mine, who will inherit and have to repair the damage done in the present. | Many of the concessions to mining companies – particularly in regard to the Tarkine – dampen that spirit of conservation and transformation. Such indolence in regard to the environment cannot help feel like a slap in the face for future generations, including mine, who will inherit and have to repair the damage done in the present. |
| This situation is only further complicated by the decision to remove further funding from universities to fund the Gonski reforms – an apparently bipartisan approach now, "robbing Peter to pay Paul". Only the Greens seem to grasp the necessity of a well-educated population in the development of a post-mining Australia. | This situation is only further complicated by the decision to remove further funding from universities to fund the Gonski reforms – an apparently bipartisan approach now, "robbing Peter to pay Paul". Only the Greens seem to grasp the necessity of a well-educated population in the development of a post-mining Australia. |
| Finally, when the Greens and Katter's Australian party are the only two parties agreeing that the chokehold of the supermarket chains on the market and on our nation's farmers must be broken, one starts to wonder if the chokehold of the major parties ought to be broken in turn. | Finally, when the Greens and Katter's Australian party are the only two parties agreeing that the chokehold of the supermarket chains on the market and on our nation's farmers must be broken, one starts to wonder if the chokehold of the major parties ought to be broken in turn. |
| It is hard not to think that the next two weeks will be all downhill from here. | It is hard not to think that the next two weeks will be all downhill from here. |
| Claire Churchward, 18, law student, Menzies, Western Australia | Claire Churchward, 18, law student, Menzies, Western Australia |
| No real effort has been made to connect with us. | No real effort has been made to connect with us. |
| The approach of our politicians to young voters seems to be aiming to capture our attention superficially in the short-term, rather than to connect with us on the real issues. The combination of the social media boom and personality politics has given a new platform to gimmicky, two-dimensional campaign tactics. These online communities have a lot of potential as political tools, but they are not being well utilised. I don't care what colour tie a candidate is wearing, nor do I want to see pictures of their cat. The fact that they believe this is the way to appeal to us and secure our votes is, honestly, mildly insulting. | The approach of our politicians to young voters seems to be aiming to capture our attention superficially in the short-term, rather than to connect with us on the real issues. The combination of the social media boom and personality politics has given a new platform to gimmicky, two-dimensional campaign tactics. These online communities have a lot of potential as political tools, but they are not being well utilised. I don't care what colour tie a candidate is wearing, nor do I want to see pictures of their cat. The fact that they believe this is the way to appeal to us and secure our votes is, honestly, mildly insulting. |
| What I want to see is leaders who are willing to see us as people, not as votes to secure in September. University funding cuts send a clear indication there is little real engagement with us as people, simply because our demographic is the minority. One of the biggest credits to my generation is our engagement in and passion for social issues. Marriage equality is supported widely by young voters and we are unconvinced by spiels about "stopping the boats". But because we are not parents or home owners, what we think about the real issues is of little importance. | What I want to see is leaders who are willing to see us as people, not as votes to secure in September. University funding cuts send a clear indication there is little real engagement with us as people, simply because our demographic is the minority. One of the biggest credits to my generation is our engagement in and passion for social issues. Marriage equality is supported widely by young voters and we are unconvinced by spiels about "stopping the boats". But because we are not parents or home owners, what we think about the real issues is of little importance. |
| I believe that the time of aligning with a particular party from our parents' generation has largely passed, because no real effort has been made to connect with us, and as a result we have no real confidence in anyone to represent us. I am concerned that because of this the votes of many young Australians may go to waste. | I believe that the time of aligning with a particular party from our parents' generation has largely passed, because no real effort has been made to connect with us, and as a result we have no real confidence in anyone to represent us. I am concerned that because of this the votes of many young Australians may go to waste. |
| Joanna Eva, 20, international and global studies student, Sydney | Joanna Eva, 20, international and global studies student, Sydney |
| Many of us are concerned about Canberra's acceptance of gross violations of asylum seekers' rights. | Many of us are concerned about Canberra's acceptance of gross violations of asylum seekers' rights. |
| The first federal election that I was old enough to "follow" was Kim Beazley v John Howard in 2001, and I was rooting for Howard. My assessment was based purely on appearances, so I guess the 11-year-old me had a thing for eyebrows. | The first federal election that I was old enough to "follow" was Kim Beazley v John Howard in 2001, and I was rooting for Howard. My assessment was based purely on appearances, so I guess the 11-year-old me had a thing for eyebrows. |
| In the same way, as Rudd "instas" his way to the supposedly homogeneous youth vote, and Abbott graces our screens in all his athletic glory, you'd be forgiven for believing that good governance over the next three years depends on the daggy-dad-ness or sex appeal of a single leader. This year the merits of a political party appear more or less dependent on the sale of its leader to consumers. Sorry, voters. | In the same way, as Rudd "instas" his way to the supposedly homogeneous youth vote, and Abbott graces our screens in all his athletic glory, you'd be forgiven for believing that good governance over the next three years depends on the daggy-dad-ness or sex appeal of a single leader. This year the merits of a political party appear more or less dependent on the sale of its leader to consumers. Sorry, voters. |
| Australia is facing a critical three years ahead, and popularity politics is not going to develop the long-term commitments and solutions we need. This trend is particularly disturbing to me as a young Australian, and I am just one of thousands calling for a better Australia to live in today and inherit tomorrow. | Australia is facing a critical three years ahead, and popularity politics is not going to develop the long-term commitments and solutions we need. This trend is particularly disturbing to me as a young Australian, and I am just one of thousands calling for a better Australia to live in today and inherit tomorrow. |
| Many of us are concerned about Canberra's acceptance of gross violations of asylum-seeker rights, the marginalisation and exploitation of our aid budget, the almost unanimous hesitancy to act on climate change and a disparity-sustaining education system, an economy that continues to rely on diminishing natural resources, and rising costs of living concurrent with high barriers to reliable incomes. | Many of us are concerned about Canberra's acceptance of gross violations of asylum-seeker rights, the marginalisation and exploitation of our aid budget, the almost unanimous hesitancy to act on climate change and a disparity-sustaining education system, an economy that continues to rely on diminishing natural resources, and rising costs of living concurrent with high barriers to reliable incomes. |
| The youth voice, while not unanimous, is united in its need for much more sustained, long-term approaches to governance. Our generation is growing more and more cynical about our leaders' abilities to make tough decisions with anything but re-election in mind. | The youth voice, while not unanimous, is united in its need for much more sustained, long-term approaches to governance. Our generation is growing more and more cynical about our leaders' abilities to make tough decisions with anything but re-election in mind. |
| If young Australians are coming together at rallies, protests, online petitions and forums, we should expect our voices to be heard as sincerely engaged voters. Instead, it feels a lot as though the Australia we desire will have to be of our own making. The "youth vote" shouldn't be sought with Instagram or Speedos or eyebrows, but a genuine engagement with the long-term issues that will dramatically shape the Australia we are set to inherit. | If young Australians are coming together at rallies, protests, online petitions and forums, we should expect our voices to be heard as sincerely engaged voters. Instead, it feels a lot as though the Australia we desire will have to be of our own making. The "youth vote" shouldn't be sought with Instagram or Speedos or eyebrows, but a genuine engagement with the long-term issues that will dramatically shape the Australia we are set to inherit. |
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