Young people are more politically engaged than ever before, they are ready and willing to show up and protest, to voice their opinions and to take action on the issues that matter.
But young people also face substantial challenges.
Victoria is in a housing crisis, with rents rising much faster than wages and where too many young people are locked out of the possibility of owning their own home.
They face sky-high cost of living, and not enough affordable support and services - like good public healthcare.
Young people are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. We’re in the critical decade for climate action, yet Labor and the Liberals continue to pour more fuel on the fire by backing more coal and gas.
Despite the valuable contributions they have to make, they can face barriers to advocating for themselves and their communities, and are not given the opportunities they deserve to shape their futures.
The Greens will push to make sure that young people’s voices are heard and that they can participate in making decisions on the issues that affect them and their communities.
We’ll push the government further and faster to tackle the climate crisis, to make housing more affordable and to lower the cost of living. We’ll also increase funding to ensure that young people can access and afford essential healthcare and services.
The Greens plan for young people includes:
- Youth voting and decision-making – optional voting for 16 and 17 year olds in local and state elections and greater participation in school decision-making
- Safe and secure homes – ending out-of-control rent rises, building more public and affordable homes and guaranteed housing and services for anyone under 25 who presents to a homelessness service
- Free public transport – for anyone aged under 21, $1 per day concession fares and $3 per day adult fares, Victoria wide
- Tackling the climate crisis – no new coal and gas, powering Victoria by 100% renewable energy by 2030, and protecting nature and our environment
- LGBTIQA+ youth services and rights – more funding for community controlled LGBTIQA+ services in key areas of need such as mental health, multicultural and youth services, homelessness and sexual health, and strengthening our laws to protect LGBTIQA+ people from discrimination and harm
- Affordable mental health care – more psychologists and psychiatrists in schools and public clinics, so everyone can get the help they need, when they need it
- A health based approach to drugs - legalising marijuana, decriminalising personal drug use, and rolling out mobile pill testing
- Free contraception - including the pill, IUDs, Implanon and making free condoms available in secondary schools