Opinion: Federal election a wake-up call for political dinosaurs

One theme I have picked up this election is that younger people see the likes of Clive Palmer indulging millions on a whim simply because they can as obscene, writes Robert Schwarten.

A polling booth in the Far North Queensland electorate of Leichhardt on election day. Picture: Brendan Radke

If ever I needed reminding of my irrelevance these days, it was there in spades last Saturday as the millennial voters shunned the ancient tradition of taking the how-to-vote cards I proffered timidly to them.

But I did make the effort to inquire of a half a dozen young voters as they fled the polling booth as to where they got their political information.

All pointed to their phones – a reminder for those of my vintage who furiously write our views in mainstream media like this that we have no influence on the millennial voter.

But those who think this group is not fair dinkum does so at their peril. This group just sees the world differently.

They see the future through a smudged windscreen of high costs, low-paid jobs, non-secure work and just about everything – from housing to education – slowly but surely inching from their grasp.

This was the group of people to which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered hope and a sympathetic ear. As opposition leader, Peter Dutton never got anywhere near their thought processes.

Robert Schwarten

The challenge for Labor now is to hold this mob. They are restless, they are unhappy, and they are champing at the bit to see a rosier future.

My observation is that those politicians who find a way to engage with the millennials are going to be in Parliament for a long time.

One theme I have picked up is that younger people see the likes of Clive Palmer indulging millions on a whim simply because they can as obscene.

They see the tax come out every week from their pay packet and are convinced that the billionaires pay none.

They see the interest climb on the HECS bill each year while the big end of town plays Russian roulette with the market.

They know the haves are having more, and the have-nots are having less.

So a conversation has to be had with them on how we create a more equitable society.

Australia was once one of the most classless societies in the world. That is ceasing to be true.

But there is still hope for me.

When I turned up for my stint at the polling booth where Schwartens have handed out since 1946, a young bloke wearing Labor Party livery offered me a how-to-vote card.

It proved my point of irrelevance, while reinforcing the party is in good hands.

Robert Schwarten is a former Queensland Labor minister

Originally published as Opinion: Federal election a wake-up call for political dinosaurs