Latest polls have again proved what we all know: Australia's politicians are deeply unpopular and Australians are increasingly politically disengaged. Our political system is in a rut and we need a burst of energy, a democratic defibrillator to bounce our political system back to life.
Fortunately, we already have the answer — 500,000 known risk takers and constant innovators who embody more diversity of cultures, visions and interests than anywhere else in Australia. I'm talking about 16 to 17-year olds — a group who, if given the vote, could provide just the shake-up that our present democratic woes require.
Our democracy is in a downward spiral and all the indicators suggest that unless we do something substantial it's going to get worse. At the last federal election 25 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds did not enroll in time to vote. Only about 2 per cent of Australians are members of political parties, considerably lower than most developed Western countries.
And the current national leaders of our major political parties have consistently held approval ratings in the high negatives, with no indication either will suddenly become popular.
Many of us are frustrated with the lack of policy and leadership from our political leaders. But far more than frustration, the flow-on effects of this political malaise is that fewer people are engaging with politics. As a result, our political system is becoming less and less democratic.
Awarding 16 and 17-year-olds the vote would be an extraordinary injection of enthusiasm and energy into our political system, and force politicians to engage and understand the biggest group of new voters since 1973, when the voting age was dropped to 18.
One instant benefit of awarding 16-years-olds the vote is voter enrollment. All the international evidence tells us that young people are far more likely to register to vote while still in school. Voting is also a habitual practice, meaning the more someone votes at a young age the more likely they are to continue to vote throughout their life.
Building school yards into dynamic hubs of political engagement and activism will not only empower younger Australians to shape this country, it will also lead to a more politically engaged electorate for many years to come.
Sixteen-year-olds deciding our Prime Minister might sound ludicrous, but Australia's already off the pace on this issue. Germany, Switzerland, Norway, the Philippines, Argentina, Nicaragua, Brazil and Ecuador have allowed 16-year-olds to vote for years. In the recent