The young leaders calling for change

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Young voters are turning their backs on our current leaders and are calling for change.

From Kevin Rudd to Scott Morrison – party in-fighting has meant that no Australian under 30-years-old has ever voted for a government whose Prime Minister has survived a full term.

No wonder then, that the leaders of Australia’s youth political parties have called for “bold progressive leadership.”

Their views mirror the results of a survey that found most young Australians are fed up with our political representatives.

Photo: Supplied
NSW Young Labor President Geeth Geeganage

According to Triple J’s What’s Up in Your World survey, 79 per cent of young Australians (aged 18-29) feel that our politicians are not working in the best interests of the nation, while 59 per cent believe that whoever is elected Prime Minister tomorrow (May 18), will not last the full term.

President of NSW Young Labor Geeth Geeganag, says that the constant push-and-pull between the major parties and politicians has hindered effective federal leadership.

“The government needs to become more aligned,” he said.

“People want… a vision for the future whilst dealing with the issues of today.”

“We need to learn from the past, especially this past decade of leadership spill after leadership spill, and build for the future through good policies that focus on fighting inequality.”

President of the NSW Young Liberals Harry Stutchbury, agrees.

He says that a vast majority of our current MPs are working only to serve themselves through controlling “party politics”.

“I think Australians are sick of being led from behind by people constantly chasing news polls and changing policy positions based on popularity,” he said.

Photo: Supplied
NSW Young Liberal President Harry Stutchbury

“I, like many others, am disappointed with the leadership instability that has been synonymous with Australian politics over the last decade.

“Our last electorally successful Prime Ministers, Howard, Keating and Hawke, had long-term visions for Australia.

“They took policies to elections, even if they were unpopular, that were for… the good of Australia. This is something we seem to have lost these days, something that needs to make a comeback.”

Outgoing Defence Minister Christopher Pyne told Central News that politics is a tough job and the media has a role to play in political messaging.

“Our media tend to write about politics like a passage of play in the football rather than focussing on the more substantive issues,” he said.

“We are distracted by the negativity and forget that politics is a service… it’s an important job, and it’s important to get right.”

For 20-year-old Greens candidate, Gianluca Dragone, only “radical change” will address the instability plaguing Australia’s political leadership.

“There is a real lack of young voices across the political spectrum and I think that it’s important that a voice for young people is always present,” he said

“Australia needs radical change and serious reconsideration [of] what society we aim to be, and that starts with political change.”

Photo: Supplied
Greens candidate for Banks Gianluca Dragone, with supporters.

Tomorrow, Australians will vote for their 46th Government and possibly seventh Prime Minister in 11 years.

“This election will be an interesting one…I think the public want to be inspired again,” Mr Geeganage said.

“They want to know their leaders are fighting for them and if there are doors standing in the way of delivering for people, these leaders will knock those doors down and wear the political circumstances.”

“We once again need to see leaders who are motivated to address the big issues, leaders who will fight hard for the things they believe in and effectively communicate why they are taking the course of action they are. I think we just need to be brave.” – Georgio Platias @grplatias