‘Yes, I’m young’: The gutsy teenage candidates in Victoria’s council elections

With a week to go before polls for council elections close, Khalid Hussain’s legs are shot.

The 18-year-old student says he has notched up more than 48 hours of pedalling over the course of a week-and-a-half to distribute about 9500 flyers around Greenvale, his home suburb on Melbourne’s northern fringe.

Khalid Hussain is one of a handful of teenagers running for council in the local government elections. Credit: Jason South

Hussain, who is running for Hume council, is one of just a dozen gutsy teenagers who have decided to throw their hat in the ring of local government elections.

This year, there are 12 teenage candidates across Victoria, according to the Victorian Electoral Commission.

This is lower than previous years: there were 19 in 2020, 18 in 2016 and 28 in 2012.

A major survey of candidates by The Age, which heard from 677 of the 1478 hopefuls running for council spots in Greater Melbourne this month, found that the average age was 47.

Hussain is acutely aware of the age gap with his rivals. He says there have been condescending comments, but they have only motivated him more.

“Yes, I’m young, I understand that, but I’ve got as much of a chance in this election and I want to be seen as an equal,” he says.

“It’s been a long bike ride. My legs have actually been killing me.”

Hussain finished VCE last year and is now doing a degree in occupational therapy while working six days a week at a health clinic.

Somehow, he’s also been finding the time to letterbox and do meet-and-greets at the local shopping centre. It’s an energy he is determined to bring to Hume City Council.

Hussain has spent more than 48 hours on his bike distributing flyers over a week and a half.Credit: Jason South

Hussain, who says he is not a member of a political party, is the first to acknowledge he doesn’t have as much life experience as most other candidates but says he has lived in Greenvale his whole life and his policies come from talking to locals.

He is advocating for rate freezes, reduced building permit costs and improved infrastructure and services for the area’s growing population.

There are six candidates vying for a single spot in Hussain’s ward of Woodlands, including Joseph Haweil, a former mayor and a councillor of eight years.

“I’m feeling nervous. It’s getting closer. I’ve been calling the VEC every day wondering how many ballots they’ve had so far and trying to strategise from there,” Hussain says.

Ivy Pierlot, a 19-year-old Greens candidate for Port Phillip Council.

Nineteen-year-old Ivy Pierlot is a Greens candidate for Port Phillip City Council, a path she started on after taking part in student climate strikes five years ago.

She believes there are fewer teenagers running in the 2024 elections because young people feel disenfranchised by mainstream politics.

“I saw the power of young people getting involved with activism and the disconnect between government and young people,” she says.

As a young trans woman, she hopes to represent young and LGBTQIA+ people, focusing on the cost of living, renting and the environment.

She believes in advocating for issues the community cares about that go beyond the scope of a council, such as bike lanes on state roads, public housing, Australia Day and the Israel-Gaza war.

“There’s definitely a hunger for young, progressive people to be elected onto council.”

Part of Pierlot’s strategy has been to harness the power of social media. She says she has been recognised by residents who have seen her videos.

Pierlot lives with her parents in Port Phillip and is in her first year of university, studying French and politics. She says it’s been stressful juggling end-of-semester assignments with her council campaign, but she feels an obligation to run.

“I just feel I have to do something to help our environment and community,” she says.

Approaching the October 25 voting deadline, Jenson Galvin is feeling confident.

The 19-year-old is running to win the Bayside ward of Bleazby after the retirement of long-serving councillor Alex del Porto.

Galvin, a Liberal Party member, grew up in Brighton and says his biggest advantage is listening to the community.

His key policies are to curb rate rises, stop irresponsible development and help reduce crime by installing more street lighting and CCTV cameras.

He has styled himself as a “fresh voice” who can bring “new energy” to the council.

“There’s a genuine need for common-sense solutions,” he says.

“Ultimately, whatever the outcome is, I’ve been out and talked to people and the support I’ve received has left me with pride for the community.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.