Explore Our Plan
- Give Young Australians the Right to Vote
-
Young Australians are politically engaged and want a say in decisions affecting their lives and future.
Giving young Australians the right to vote acknowledges the national and global crises that young people are experiencing and will inherit.
Expanding voting rights—from men without property to women, First Nations people, and those aged 18-21—has consistently strengthened Australia’s democracy.
Lowering the voting age to 16 is a simple way to bring Australia into global alignment and strengthen our democracy.
The Greens' plan:
- Amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act to give Australians aged 16 and 17 the right to vote.
- Provide the Australian Electoral Commission funding to enact changes to lower the voting age to 16.
- Enact exemption for fines for those aged 16 and 17 who fail to vote.
- Superannuation for people aged under 18
-
Young workers should receive the same financial rights as everyone else. Currently, most workers under 18 miss out on superannuation because they don’t work enough hours per week.
This exclusion costs young people thousands in lost retirement savings, denying them a head start on saving for their future.
The Greens believe superannuation is a universal entitlement. By including under-18 workers in the superannuation system, we can set young people up for a more secure retirement while recognising their valuable contribution to the workforce.
The Greens' plan:
- Extend the superannuation guarantee to all under 18-year-olds, ensuring they are paid contributions regardless of how many hours they work.