Young Victorian voters torn between disillusionment, optimism

Young voters in regional Victoria are feeling torn between disillusionment over the political status quo and optimism about their potential to influence the upcoming state election. According to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC), individuals aged between 18 and 44 will make up 44% of the vote, making their participation crucial for the outcome.

Ollie Edens, a deputy mayor of the Mildura Rural City youth council, noted that while younger generations once voted similarly to their parents, many are now forming independent political opinions shaped by social media. He noted that "they're very determined on that" and "have an independent conscience" when it comes to politics.

Jack Dumsday, a Wodonga student who relies on his wheelchair, expressed concern over the town's poor public transport system, stating that he would like to see improvements. Charlie Bradbury, a 22-year-old living in the Ovens Valley electorate, said she would "pick the lesser of the evils" but was particularly interested in policies addressing rent freezing and publicly-owned local supermarkets.

She emphasized that the current epidemic of violence against women is "absolutely abysmal", leading her to approach her vote with a gender-based focus.

Monash University politics professor Zareh Ghazarian highlighted that thousands of first-time voters will have a significant impact on the election. The professor divided young voters into two categories: those who research candidates, their policies, and ideas, and those who consider the voting habits of their parents and friends. Dr. Ghazarian stated that the decisions made by young voters could determine the success of major parties or any candidate in an electorate.

Conal Feehely, the Victorian campaign director for GetUp, emphasized that young Australians face a lower standard of living than their parents, with "enormous student debt" and "enormous increases to their rent", while still not seeing a prospect of owning a home. He added that young people want "a type of politics that's hopeful and gives them answers," but are not seeing this currently.

Dr. Ghazarian noted that young people are leading figures in international movements focused on environmental protection, conservation, and social justice. Not only do they lead political debate, but they also respond to it, he added. Hamish Knight and Dylan Stockwell, who organized a rally against One Nation that saw about 100 students march through Bendigo, expressed concern over the party's divisive nature, believing that people need to "start fighting back."

Despite their concerns, Sarah Clayton, a 21-year-old from Benambra who is part of the NESAY youth advisory committee, felt uninformed about politics and saw that reflected among her peers. She received information through social media or word of mouth and felt that the donkey vote had become popular among her generation. Ms. Clayton advocated for more education in schools about politics and believed that young people should no longer be embarrassed to discuss it, as it is a crucial aspect of their lives and future.