Millennials and Gen Z comprise 52% of the electorate in Lindsay, making their voices louder than ever in this upcoming election. Lindsay is one of the largest electorates with 187,851 people according to ABS data from 2021. Known for its swing history means every conversation, social media post and door knock in Lindsay could tip the scales. For young voters the next three years is about shaping the community they want for their future. Labor’s Hollie McLean is challenging Liberal incumbent Melissa McIntosh and issues such as housing affordability, education, infrastructure and the economy are centre stage.
McIntosh urges young voters to be cautious of being swayed by social media campaigns, saying “I see a lot of young people just taking a how to vote Greens, but Greens are all care no responsibility.” She believes political education should be more embedded in schools and encouraged young voters to consider which party can deliver long-term economic stability.
Meanwhile, McLean acknowledges that many young people feel overwhelmed by conflicting information online. “It is really difficult to know where you’re being told truth and where you’re being told spin,” she says. McLean’s campaign has involved regular door knocking and being present at local areas as she believes face-to-face conversations can cut through the noise.
What Matters to Young Voters in Lindsay
Montayah Astruc, a uni student and voter in this upcoming election, believes the biggest issue facing young people today is financial stability and independence. She said high interest rates, soaring house prices, and low wage growth have made it extremely difficult for young Australians to get ahead.
If she could tell local leaders one thing it would be to genuinely listen. “Don’t assume you know us or what we’re going through because you were young once too, times have changed dramatically,” she said. “Our generation has been burdened with the economic, political and environmental state of the world that your generation and the ones before you have caused.”
Another student, Chelsey Marteenee, 2o, says many young people are overwhelmed by the pressure of balancing study and part-time work just to afford everyday necessitates. “For those young people who don’t have a choice to live at home, they potentially may struggle with paying weekly rent and adding to their savings therefore causing more stress,” she said. “Society’s costs are increasing often, and young people are already being faced with the worry of only being able to get by, so it would be adding to the stress knowing these costs are going up soon. This all can contribute to degrading mental health”
Chelsey believes local leaders need to recognise the stress young people are under, even before taking on major life responsibilities like raising a family “It would be beneficial for leaders to have readily available resources and professionals to support young people during their struggles” she said. “They would need to consider the cost of these services as some people cannot afford them or know where they can find financial help.”
Hollie McLean: Building Foundations for the Future
For Hollie McLean, Labor’s campaign is about more than quick fixes, it’s about long term change. “I want voters to know and to have heard about the really great policies that we’re putting forward,” McLean says. “It might not be giant tax cuts or one-off payments, but it’s the structural things that are changing.” Labor plans to have more than 90% of doctor visits bulk billed by 2030. McLean stressed the importance of this for young people starting their careers, families, and futures. “A healthy community is a stronger community,” she explains. “If you’re healthier, you’re happier, you’re more engaged in your community.”
McLean, who had her passion for politics ignited as a child watching the fall of the Berlin Wall, speaks passionately about the need for leaders who put the community first. “My passion for politics is because I believe if you have the right people at the table making decisions, then your community has all of the benefit,” she says. “Not for themselves, not for any specific group but broadly for the community.”
For young people worried about the cost of living, McLean pointed out Labor’s recent cutting of HECS by 20% and major investments into education. “Finally reaching the Gonski commitment means every kid or grandkid in Lindsay will have access to properly funded schools, no matter where you go to school.”
Housing is another issue, and McLean acknowledges the pressures young adults face when trying to stay in the area where they grew up. She noted that Labor knows about the issue regarding economic feasibility of new builds. “A lot of work is going into supporting manufacturing for the inputs into housing to help bring down some of those costs and therefore make it easier for developers to carry out the DAs.” She also highlights moves by the NSW Labor Government to improve rental stability and new requirements of a percentage of social and affordable housing in every new development including in St Mary’s. “The whole lot together is going to start to show people in Lindsay that it is and will always be affordable to stay and live in here rather than being pushed further and further out of Sydney.”
Melissa McIntosh: A Fighter for Lindsay’s Community
On the Liberal side, Melissa McIntosh is campaigning as a local advocate who knows the struggles of western Sydney firsthand. “My focus has always been community first,” McIntosh says. “Western Sydney is often left behind, and particularly by this current government.” She pointed out the delays in upgrades to Mulgoa Road and Dunheved Road as examples of neglect. “People live here because they want a better life for their families,” she says. “I will always fight for our community and put them first.”
Growing up locally, McIntosh studied Journalism and Public Relations at Western Sydney University before entering politics. Her experiences working with a not-for-profit local community housing organisation that looked after people experiencing homelessness has shaped her political values. “People think that only people that are on the left of politics care about these things, and that’s not the case,” McIntosh said. “It’s very much for us as Liberals. It’s around, rewarding people that want to have a go, equality of opportunity and choice, but it is also about looking after people who fall through the safety net, and that’s where we need to help people most.”
Housing affordability remains a key concern for McIntosh too. She supports policies to unlock housing supply by addressing infrastructure bottlenecks like water and sewage connections. “We also have a policy allowing young people to use their super to get into their first home.” She also stresses the importance of balancing immigration to relieve pressure on housing and infrastructure in areas like Lindsay.
