Young people: Give us a party if you want our vote

A poll of more than a thousand young voters in Western Sydney found nightlife and 24-hour public transport are top issues ahead of the state election.

Young people in Western Sydney say the state of Sydney’s night-life is in dire straits – and it could swing their vote.

A survey from United Workers Union’s Generation United campaign of more than a thousand young voters from five Western Sydney electorates found 67 per cent said the NSW Government is not doing enough to support the night-life industry.

Access to transport was one of the biggest issues young people said needed to be fixed with many feeling unsafe with a lack of early morning services, and young people are willing to vote for it.

68 per cent of young people agreed or strongly agreed Sydney’s public transport was not a reliable way to get home after a night out.

“As a young person in Western Sydney after the pandemic hit you quickly realised how ill equipped in terms of public transport we are,” 19-year-old student Grace Bracks said.

Grace Bracks and Chloe Tyrrell say nightlife is lacking. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“We need more safety on trains, and on the weekends when people are really wanting to go out and explore night-life, there should be 24 hour access to safe and reliable public transport so we can go and support artists.”

“A lot of my friends are very frustrated, and it will be a huge decider in the coming months.”

People out in Circular Quay Picture: Damian Shaw

62.7% agreed the night-life offering in the five Western Sydney electorates — Oatley, Parramatta, Penrith, Camden and Riverstone — was particularly lacking.

“Going out and exploring what Newtown has, you realise locally we don’t have much. It’s a big issue because out here we feel isolated from the arts scene,” Ms Bracks said.

The poll also found that 14 per cent of young voters are still undecided ahead of the state election, which Generation United spokesperson Karma Lord said is proof the major parties need a clear plan to improve night-life offerings if they want to win the youth vote.

“An overwhelming majority believe the State Government is failing to revive Sydney’s night-life. Across the world we’re seeing young voters flex their political muscle and

there’s every indication that NSW state election is set for a similar ‘youthquake’.”

Generation United is calling on the major parties to commit $50 million to improving night-life, by supporting 10,000 live gigs and 24 hour trains on weekends.