Make It 16 Australia Advances Nationwide
With the world's attention on Australia for the Women's World Cup, we hope people will also learn from the extraordinary Make It 16 Australia campaign. Momentum is building all across the continent.
It has been a tremendous couple of months for the Make it 16 Australia campaign, with our official launch in Canberra, events in Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart and major media coverage. And we’re only just getting started! See below for a summary of what’s happened so far and what’s coming up in the push to lower Australia’s voting age.
Make It 16 Australia’s Journey
Young people from across Australia have joined our cause to push for lowering the voting age.
Our first milestone was the forming and gathering of the Make It 16 Australia Youth Action Group, comprising individuals aged between 14 and 17 in April. During this movement-building week, we held workshops, engaged in strategic planning, and even had the opportunity to meet with a politician. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to organizations such as Foundation for Young Australians and Run For It Australia for their invaluable support and the workshops they provided.
Make it 16 Australia bursts onto political map with a lobbying push in Canberra.
"Our campaign launch was an exhilarating and successful day," exclaimed Amelia and Izzy, members of the Make it 16 Youth Action Group from Canberra. "We started by personally delivering our meticulously researched papers to politicians' offices in the parliament house. The conversations we had were truly remarkable, and I even had an interesting and lengthy discussion with a staffer from the National Party. It was so empowering to see that people from all sides of politics were genuinely listening to us!"
The interactions that followed were nothing short of remarkable. From engaging discussions with staffers to an encounter with the Prime Minister himself, the young advocates showcased their commitment and determination. It was positive to see politicians from all sides genuinely listening to their concerns.
The Make it 16 Australia campaign also made a powerful splash into the media landscape. At midday, a press conference featuring influential figures like Stephen Bates, Monique Ryan, and Andrew Wilkie took place. The young advocates, slightly intimidated but fully empowered, delivered their message with passion and conviction. The campaign received continuous media interviews throughout the week, effectively amplifying our message and reaching a broader audience.
So, if you believe in empowering the next generation and giving young people a stronger voice in politics, join the movement! Together, we can make a difference and create a more inclusive and representative democracy for all Australians.
Momentum is building all across Australia!
After our launch in Canberra, we have been so encouraged to see local Make it 16 efforts taking off all across Australia. Here are several updates from the field.
Hobart:
The Hobart launch was a room filled with vibrant and passionate young individuals, all enthusiastic and ready to make their voices heard. The energy was electric as they expressed their reasons for supporting a lower voting age.
One of the ideas that came up was the simple fact that if these young folks were already contributing to society by working, paying taxes, and enlisting in the army, then their voices deserved to be heard in shaping the future of the nation. After all, why should they be denied a say in matters that directly impact their lives?
Another idea is that the government is actively making decisions that will deeply impact all of our futures in significant ways, including the quality of education, public transport, rental affordability, and employment pathways. As the generation that will inherit the consequences of decisions made today, we have a lot at stake in the political process. Being able to vote means having influence on our own future.
It was inspiring for Tasmania Make it 16 organizers, An and Oscar, to witness young people’s passion for bringing positive change to Australia. It was evident that this was a topic that they were eager to discuss and take action on. They wanted their voices to count, and they were ready to engage in meaningful conversations about the future of Australia.
Adelaide:
Harper and Emilia, two dedicated representatives from South Australia, organized the Make it 16 Adelaide launch event with the valuable support of other helpers. Their weeks of planning and coordination ensured the event's success.
The launch, held at the Joinery in the Adelaide CBD on July 1st, attracted an enthusiastic crowd of both young and older individuals passionate about the movement. Representatives from local and state government, including the SA Commissioner for Children and Young People and local councillors, as well as youth organizations like School Strike For Climate and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, were present at the launch.
Attendees engaged in a visioning activity, envisioning a future where young people can vote, further strengthening their commitment to the movement. The atmosphere was vibrant and filled with enthusiasm, as students, activists, and supporters passionately discussed the potential impact of lowering the voting age.
With over 30 attendees, the launch received overwhelming positive feedback, indicating strong support for the Make it 16 campaign in Adelaide. The momentum for the movement continues to grow, with the aim of empowering young people and advocating for their political involvement and voting rights in South Australia.
Melbourne:
Make it 16’s biggest event so far was in Melbourne on 27 July. Over 50 people made their way to the windy Docklands to discuss the case for lowering the voting age. The discussion was led by Make it 16 organiser Ravin, and the panel included federal independent MP Monique Ryan, Victoria’s youngest MP Aiv Puglielli from The Greens and representatives from the Victorian Student Representative Council. One of Make it 16’s major supporters, The Body Shop, was also in attendance, adding its global perspective on the push to lower the voting age, with several campaigns now running across the world.
One of the main themes of the night was the potentially transformative effect of lowering the voting age on Australia’s currently lacking civics education system. With young people in high school finally being allowed the right to vote, there is an opportunity to ensure they are better educated on how Australia’s democracy and voting system works while in a more stable environment than most 18 year olds. The result could be a whole generation far better equipped to engage with and shape government policy than previous ones, strengthening our democracy.
Launceston:
Back into Tassie, organisers An and Oscar have been making significant strides with their impactful events. Recently, they hosted a successful gathering in Launceston that garnered substantial interest. The event brought together young people to discuss pressing issues like climate, housing, and mental health, fostering a thoughtful exchange of ideas. Their most recent event in Launceston was an absolute blast, and the energy was through the roof! Young people were discussing significant issues such as climate, housing, and mental health. A sponsorship from SUFTY, Standing Up For The Young, made the event possible. The event sparked a positive beginning, and the goal is to sustain the momentum and work together towards shaping the future of Australia.
Building our campaign into the future:
Make It 16 has made significant strides since its inception. We are proud to lead Australia's first youth-led campaign aimed at lowering the voting age to 16. Our co-founder, Archie Coppola, highlights that 16 and 17-year-olds can already engage in various adult responsibilities, such as driving, consenting to medical procedures, and working full time. Thus, it is only fair that we extend the right to vote to young people in this age group.
Our primary objective is to persuade the Federal Government to pass legislation amending the Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1918 to lower the voting age. With over half a million 16 and 17-year-olds residing in Australia, Make it 16 advocates for extending them the right to vote, acknowledging their desire to actively participate in shaping government decisions that directly impact their lives and futures. We need your help to make it happen!
Join us!
Together, we can ensure that young voices are heard loud and clear, and we will strengthen our democracy for generations to come. Let's make a positive impact on Australia's future! Please pass this update along to anyone you know in Australia. 😊🗳️🇦🇺
An Le (she/her) is a 14 year old, and the youngest member of the Youth Action Group of Make it 16 Nipaluna (Hobart). She is passionate about engaging with young people in the decisions and discussions that will directly impact their future. An believes that young people should have the right to vote as they face the consequences of climate crises, global conflicts, and high housing costs. She advocates for lowering the voting age to effectively engage and empower youth in shaping policies and addressing generational inequality. An and the rest of the Make it 16 team are determined and committed to delivering young people a true seat at the table for a fairer and more inclusive future in Australia.
If you have questions or want to get more involved in the Make it 16 Australia movement, please reach out to our campaign manager Ed Krutsch at ed@makeit16.au.