Long copy paste but if you’re at all interested in the thoughts of the under 40’s, not sure it’s much of a cross section but you’d have to think pretty consistent concerns anyway.
Stressed, scared, overwhelmed: the election issues weighing on young Australian voters
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It may not be surprising that in the age of global boiling, doomscrolling and the prospect of being worse off than our parents, the mood is overwhelmingly gloomy.
More than 500 feel pessimistic about the future, 174 are somewhat optimistic, many with the caveat of uncertainty, and the rest oscillate between the two.
The cost of living is the overwhelming main stressor, mentioned 528 times, followed closely by housing (521), both often mentioned in tandem. Climate comes in at third, flagged by 434.
Other frequent themes are broad concerns about social cohesion (244), rising far-right ideology (210), healthcare (190) and foreign affairs (152).
Are there any glimmers of hope for our future?
Here 20 young people share more about their thoughts before they head to the ballot box in May, holding more generational power than ever.
Being the first person in my family to graduate from university, I thought I’d have a much better life than my parents
Buying a house has become increasingly unattainable for first home buyers. Being the first person in my family to graduate from university, I thought I’d have a much better life than my parents. My mother worked as a cleaner and my stepfather worked in a factory. They bought their home while earning a combined income lower than mine.
It’s becoming harder and harder not to place the blame on older generations who don’t want their investments to lose value. They have, in effect, screwed over future generations by voting against housing reform in two elections. I don’t think it’s financially feasible to start a family in these economic conditions. Housing impacts inflation more than anything else. Your biggest chance at success in this country comes down to the size of your parents’ bank account and that’s not something I can rely on.
Chad, 29, Newcastle, New South Wales
Even with private healthcare and Medicare, having to spend $50-$100 on a GP
The major economic stressor for me at the moment is cost of living and healthcare. I’m fortunately in a position where, as a nurse, I can usually guide my own treatment. But I’ve been sick quite a bit recently. Even with private healthcare and Medicare, having to spend $50-$100 on a GP to tell me that I’m too sick for work and need a medical certificate is frustrating … As someone on 60k a year, with a 30k mortgage a year, having to spend that to get my sick leave paid out is incredibly stressful financially. I can only imagine [how] people who don’t have private health or are in a lower socioeconomic bracket are faring, and I’m worried about my retired father because of it.
For social stressors? I’m dreading the rise of the far right in Australian democracy. With the rise of Trump, and all the far-right nutters coming out of the woodwork to strip especially women and minority groups of fundamental rights, it scares me that rightwingers here are going to be emboldened by that. As a woman, I shouldn’t have to be scared that my right to an abortion, or my right to access contraceptive health, is going to be taken away from me. The moment I save up enough, I’m getting snipped.
Chelsea, 25, Cowan, Western Australia
We have inherited a damaged planet and the job of cleaning up will be vast and painful
There have been very few recent developments, locally, nationally and globally, to arrest my decade-long slide into deep pessimism for myself, for Australia and for the planet. There is an overabundance of evidence that our planet’s collective future will be dire because our predecessors squandered our natural environment, plundering resources and polluting the ecosystems upon which we depend – mostly so a tiny fraction of humans can be grotesquely wealthy. We have inherited a damaged planet and the job of cleaning up will be vast and painful.
Instead of shouldering this burden … any policies and legislation that have addressed these issues are not comprehensive enough, nor quick-acting enough. So, pessimism, despair and rage are entirely reasonable responses to the myriad challenges of our historical moment.
Anonymous, 39, Griffith, Queensland
I fear that Indigenous people will be targeted this election, and we are going backwards on reconciliation and Indigenous affairs
Socially I’m concerned more by social cohesion, polarisation, economic inequality. As an Indigenous man, I fear that Indigenous people will be targeted this election, and we are going backwards on reconciliation and Indigenous affairs. The single most important issue that will decide my vote this election is a stable government that does not indulge in division and misinformation.
Globally, we are seeing our long-term ally throw democracy under the bus in favour of a dictator, as well as exacerbating tensions in the Middle East. Australia’s influence is small but we need stability if we are to navigate this period.
Chris, 35, Wills, Victoria
The genocide in Gaza and Australia’s response is probably the most important issue that will determine my vote this year
Right now, the cost-of-living crisis and my growing Hecs debt are major concerns. Saving feels impossible and owning a home seems like a distant dream. Even the price of basic necessities are exorbitant and the idea of enjoying luxury experiences like travel is completely out of reach.
I am quite pessimistic about the future; I feel that rightwing conservatives have growing fears about the left “taking over”, and I think it is for that reason that Australia as a whole is becoming more socially regressive. The genocide in Gaza and Australia’s response is probably the most important issue that will determine my vote this year.
Rayana, 22, Berowra/Mitchell, NSW
I am cautiously optimistic about the future
Labor has done well to reduce the inequalities and inflation caused by nine years of Coalition leadership. From the people I have spoken to on the left and right side of politics, Labor’s commitment to the disastrous Aukus submarine deal, inaction on the Israel-Palestine conflict and their lack of direct action on cost of living and climate change are the driving factors that are likely to lose them the next election.
I am cautiously optimistic about the future. The international rise in rightwing, nationalistic parties is deeply disturbing but I remain optimistic that this trend is temporary. As history shows, nationalism, protectionism, individualism and unregulated capitalism does not work, and it never will work.
Jameson, 22, Boothby, South Australia
Fear as a single female of old age poverty
Major stressors right now are cost of living (specifically cost of renting), the prospect of AI making my professional role redundant in the near future, whether to return to tertiary study and indebt myself to the gills or accept a pay cut to start at the bottom in a new industry, fear for the future of the environment, fear for the future of democracy in the west, fear as a single female of old age poverty, fear that my parents won’t be able to afford adequate old age care, fear about what the emerging new world order means for Australia’s security.
Anonymous, 35, Macnamara, Victoria
I fear we will turn into little America where poverty is rife, home ownership becomes a privilege for the upper class and people will die of preventable diseases due to lack of affordable or accessible healthcare
I have coeliac disease and the rising cost of food is further inflated for even basic gluten-free products. It costs minimum $5 for a half-loaf of poor quality GF bread, $7 for a better quality half-loaf. A nine-pack of regular hot cross buns cost less than a three-pack of GF ones (on sale). My ADHD medication has gluten in it so I can choose between paying the PBS price for gluten-containing ones that make my body sick, or pay over three times the cost to get it compounded gluten-free.
I have no kids, five years in my full-time job and $100k in savings and I still don’t earn enough as a single to service a mortgage on a modest, 40-year-old two-bed townhouse in the roughest parts of my local council area. I see increased homelessness in my area as long-term renters are priced out of neighbourhoods they’ve lived in for generations and even people with professional jobs like mine end up living in their cars.
There are fewer and fewer bulk-billing GPs and mental health services are inaccessible to people on lower incomes due to insufficient Medicare rebates and complete lack of bulk-billed psychology services. I fear we will turn into little America where poverty is rife, home ownership becomes a privilege for the upper class and people will die of preventable diseases due to lack of affordable or accessible healthcare.
Anonymous, 30, Rankin, Queensland
I used to feel like growing up middle class and getting a great education would set my life up for stability and happiness. Now I worry about my future every day
A lot of economic realities are combining to nightmarish effect. I’m stuck in a constant cycle of temporary employment contracts, trying to survive on that and jobseeker, have $83,000+ in Hecs debt, and the rental availability where I am is less than half of that of Sydney. The constant accumulation of higher and higher bills for food, rent and electricity, as well as the fact that none of those costs are regulated in a remotely acceptable way at the moment, are financially disastrous. The stress caused by that flows into other areas of my life and makes me a lot more angry and bitter than I used to be.
Everything that I liked about Australia is disappearing. You can’t even get free healthcare any more and the quality and availability of it is all over the place … I used to feel like growing up middle class and getting a great education would set my life up for stability and happiness. Now I worry about my future every day, especially as a single woman.
Anonymous, 33, Robertson, NSW
Respect for the government is out the window at this point. I remember being in awe on the year 6 excursion to Canberra, visiting Parliament House. Now? I read the Guardian in the morning, enough to make sure I’m up to date, and that’s it. I can’t handle it any more
My husband was made redundant, so to get by while we waited for Centrelink we had to ask family for loans. Even still my husband and I eat the leftovers of our daughter’s food so we make sure she gets the required nutrients she needs to be healthy and grow.
Socially what stresses me out is the fact I brought a little girl into an increasingly misogynist world and I’m worried Australia isn’t doing enough for women (or anyone really). How do I raise her to be a happy girl when all I worry about is the violence she could be exposed to?
I have felt pessimistic since the 2020 bushfire and the pandemic over which I found I lack any faith in our leadership. Respect for the government is out the window at this point. I remember being in awe on the year 6 excursion to Canberra, visiting Parliament House. Now? I read the Guardian in the morning, enough to make sure I’m up to date, and that’s it. I can’t handle it any more.
Catie, 26, Shortland, NSW
The joy of a new Labor government has been replaced with a foreboding sense that nothing has changed
Cost of living, mortgage, Hecs debt. Divisive politics, rise of the far right. I feel like the joy of a new Labor government has been replaced with a foreboding sense that nothing has changed, or the economic forces at play are more immovable than was once hoped. Environmental doom and wild inaction from both our major parties. My young son makes me positive but the news makes me sad. It’s hard not to question what type of world his generation will inherit.
Kres, 34, Clark, Tasmania
Honestly I’d vote for no one if I could
I’ve moved back in with my parents so I guess I’m lucky in that sense, and they own their home and are retired and work casually. My income isn’t amazing but I was able to rent easily before the pandemic and had money for social activities and sport. It’s moronic to even consider living by yourself unless you have a very well-paying job and, even then, good luck saving for a deposit.
I feel like an entire generation or two have been left behind. I have given up on the thought of having children and even dreaming of owning a house. I feel like my only chance is when my parents pass away but then how is that a noble life to live? Honestly I’d vote for no one if I could. Maybe Liberals, due to the inactivity of Labor, but I don’t know. The Greens are promising rental changes. Still a little undecided.
Anonymous, 32, Eden-Monaro, NSW
The rise of teals gives me hope and speaks to the inability of major parties to bring about collective change
Our rental didn’t meet the state standards for minimum housing but we were desperate. We want to buy a house so we can have secure housing but that seems impossible despite both having jobs that earn above minimum wage.
Socially, I’m very concerned we’re heading backwards. The radicalisation of white men … What is happening in the US is terrifying. I am stressed about the rights of trans people, about equal opportunity in the workplace, about reconciliation for the First Nations people of our land, about abortion rights, about the education of our children and the quality of our tertiary education. The rise of teals gives me hope and speaks to the inability of major parties to bring about collective change. Independents can pressure and hold accountable the larger parties.
Anonymous, 34, Boothby, SA
I don’t have kids and, at this moment in time, I am happy about that because the future does not look good
The recent election of Donald Trump in the US is a significant social stressor for me right now. My concerns stem from his ability to influence other parts of the world … He has already started to make changes that have broader impact (for example, his changes around DEI that have now flowed through various private-sector organisations throughout the world).
We seem to be in a period of immense change and conflict in society. There is huge division between different parts of our community and the conservative political party seems to be increasingly becoming extremist in their views. I don’t have kids and, at this moment in time, I am happy about that because the future does not look good.
Anonymous, 33, La Trobe, Victoria
I generally have an impending sense of doom
A societal stressor is appropriate taxation, including collecting fair royalties on mining and fossil fuel exploitation, and no new fossil fuel projects, including expansions, and ending native forest logging. I generally have an impending sense of doom regarding the climate crisis and the seeming inability of the ruling/political class to take meaningful action combined with the global rise of rightwing populism.
However, I also think we have a great opportunity to use the climate crisis as a catalyst to come together and take meaningful action and simultaneously create positive structural change. I will vote Greens.
Anonymous, 23, Newcastle, NSW
In the face of upheaval and global doom, I have to focus myself on what matters, and for me that is my kids and my immediate family and friends
I think things are going to get worse with the climate, geopolitics and general world order. But the certainty I feel around this galvanises me into a state of optimism and gratitude for what I have. I make the most of the moment and hold my loved ones close. It may seem like giving up but in the face of upheaval and global doom I have to focus myself on what matters, and for me that is my kids and my immediate family and friends.
Pat, 35, New England, NSW
Concerned about the general population’s apathetic approach to voting
I am currently concerned about the general population’s apathetic approach to voting, manipulation of party perceptions by Murdoch media, power and influence of corporations in politics. But will feel optimistic if Labor is re-elected and Greens can continue steady pressure for progressive policy.
Brent, 31, Franklin, Tasmania
Gen Z breaks records when it comes to acceptance
Cost of both housing and groceries continue to rise. Living with my parents is fine but the fact that it’ll take over decades’ worth of working just to rent is actually wild. It’s incredibly stressful to think of that future. I want kids, I want a family but where are they going to live if I can’t even afford to rent one bedroom in a share home?
I’m torn between feeling optimistic and pessimistic. Gen Z breaks records when it comes to acceptance. I think that living and growing up in a world surrounded by technology teaches gen Z empathy 1,000% more than any other generation. It’s easier to love and be yourself in this generation. But I’m pessimistic about the state the world/country might be in by the time we are able to actually change things.
Tristan, 19, Fenner, Australian Capital Territory
I do believe we have something special in this country
The major stressor for my family is the cost of living in relation to paying off our mortgage in the face of higher interest rates. For me personally, having seen the rise of extreme content online first-hand, and watching unfolding events in the US and the resulting impact on global politics, I am concerned for our country’s democracy and strategic position globally.
I’m definitely more optimistic than pessimistic … I do not want Australia and our culture to follow the course America has taken, because I do believe we have something special in this country that makes it a peaceful, forward-thinking society. That is something that we should work to protect.
Noah, 20, Mackellar, NSW
I feel optimistic that the older voters/politicians who hold racist, sexist beliefs will eventually fade from the voting pool
Higher costs for necessities including food prices, petrol, public transport etc, the climate crisis and lack of serious action, the increasing rates of femicide and domestic abuse, the gender divide when it comes to politics, low social cohesion, unstable international alliances.
I feel optimistic that the older voters/politicians who hold racist, sexist beliefs will eventually fade from the voting pool, and we can all get on with ensuring that the next generation grows up in a better world than the millennials/gen Zs were handed.
Therese, 23, Kooyong, Victoria
