Tasmania’s Youth Parliament believe voting age should be lowered to 16
Tasmania’s brightest young leaders have called for the voting age to be lowered to 16, saying “we’re inheriting this world”. Have your say in our poll >>
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Tasmanian’s brightest young people believe 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote and have debated hot political topics while taking part in Youth Parliament this week.
While debating topics of housing, education and climate change at Parliament House, Lucian Beattie, 17, Lyn Barry, 17, and Saila Perera, 15, said they believed the voting age should be reduced.
“We’re old enough to have a voice and it’s our futures they’re dealing with,” Ms Barry said. “At that age you are responsible and knowledgeable enough to be able to make decisions on your future.
“I’m about to turn 18 and I don’t know what I want to do with my life but I do know that I want to feel safe and I don’t want to be terrorised by bushfires every summer.”
Mr Beattie said young people were as informed as adults.
“As young people, we are inheriting this world and in a couple of years it won’t make a difference whether or not we’re 16 or 18,” he said.
“Young people are not more likely to donkey vote or vote without any understanding of what they are voting for.
“Young people can engage more in advocacy and politics and policy by lowering the voting age so we actually have a say on what affects us.”
Tasmanian Youth Parliament was started to help young people across Tasmania find their voice through empowerment and education. Students participating in the program experience a full week of workshops, advocacy, mingling with each other and politicians, and practice their parliamentary debating skills.
The young leaders of the future joined the program to expand their understanding on how politics works.
“I have always been a bit curious about politics, so I wanted to broaden my knowledge on it,” Ms Perera said.
“At first I was like, quite nervous but everyone is quite friendly.”
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