
Watch: Australia's first-time voters have their say
The power is in the hands of the younger generations for the 2025 election as millennials and generation Z outnumber baby boomers, a shift that could reshape the nation's political landscape.
Around 18 million Australians are set to vote, with 43% of them millennials and generation Z, compared to the 33% representation of baby boomers, data from the Australian Electoral Commission shows.
Among these younger voters is a growing Irish diaspora.
The number of Ireland-born residents in Australia has now passed 100,000, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Many first-time voters expressed disillusionment with the two-party system, struggling to find positives in either the Labor or Liberal coalition parties.
"I think [Liberal Party leader] Peter Dutton would be worse, but I think there's no positive case for the Labor party either," said 22-year-old architecture student Jasmine Al-Rawi, who recently gained citizenship after relocating from New Zealand.
Whilst it's predicted that generation Z will swing the result to the left, 18-year-old politics student Ava Cavalerie Johnson cautioned against the generalisation of her cohort.
"I don't think it's true that the entire Gen Z population is voting towards the left," she said.
"There are still a lot of conservative beliefs in politics. I think there will be a bigger shift to the left, but I don't think there'll be a full shift."
A 2022 report by the Australian Election Study group indicated a trend among millennials and generation Z voters moving away from the two major parties.
The report stated: "At no time in the 35-year history of the AES has there been such a low level of support for either major party in so large a segment."
However 18-year-old arts and science student Darcy Palmer worries that there is not enough awareness around Australia's unique preferential voting system, which may discourage his peers from voting outside the two major parties.
"A lot of young people will vote for Labor just so Dutton doesn't come in, instead of voting for who they actually want to vote for, like an independent or the Greens," he said.
The result of the US election also weighs heavily on the minds of young voters, many of whom are scared that Australia will follow suit in a shift to the right.
"I'm viewing the current election just in the sense of trying to avoid the situation that's happening over there," said 19-year-old arts student Jessica Louise Smith.
"I feel not as focused on the genuine politics in Australia as I am simply avoiding the worst possible option."
The Australian general election will be held on 3 May.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Independent
25 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Tánaiste insists EU green light for potential counter-tariffs on €93bn of US goods ‘not escalatory'
European Union member states voted on Thursday to approve counter-tariffs on €93bn of US goods, which could be imposed should the bloc fail to reach a trade deal with Washington, EU diplomats said. The 27-nation bloc's executive European Commission had said on Wednesday its primary focus was to achieve a negotiated outcome with Washington to avert 30pc US tariffs that US President Donald Trump has said he will apply on August 1. The Commission said it would press on in parallel with plans for potential countermeasures, merging two packages of proposed tariffs of €21 billion and €72 billion into a single list and submitting this to EU members for approval. No countermeasures would enter force until August 7. So far the EU has held back from imposing any countermeasures, despite Trump's repeated announcements of tariffs, the broadest of which have been postponed. EU member states authorised the first package of countermeasures in April, but these were immediately suspended to allow time for negotiations. The EU and United States appear to be heading towards a possible trade deal, according to EU diplomats, which would result in a broad 15pc tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring a framework agreement Washington struck with Japan. Trump would still need to take any final decision. Under the outlines of the potential deal, the 15pc rate could apply to sectors including cars and pharmaceuticals and would not be added to long-standing US duties, which average just under 5pc. There could also be concessions for sectors such as aircraft, lumber as well as some medicines and agricultural products, which would not face tariffs, diplomats said. Washington does not, however, appear willing to lower its 50pc tariff on steel. The Tánaiste insisted the approval of the counter-tariffs was not escalatory. "Throughout the negotiations we have been clear that while we would engage in good faith with the US, it was also necessary to prepare rebalancing measures should negotiations not be successful," Mr Harris said. 'This morning the 27 EU Member States have continued with that approach. This is not escalatory – it's a continuation of our calm, measured preparation. Our objective remains a mutually beneficial deal by 1 August," he added. Mr Harris said "some key Irish sensitivities" have been removed from the list of countermeasures. However the Government anticipated the list, if used, would be impact Irish businesses. 'While we were successful in removing some key Irish sensitivities following intensive consultation with the European Commission, this package of rebalancing measures if implemented would have an adverse effect on European and Irish business," Mr Harris said. 'However let me be clear, while we do not wish to see this list ever come into effect, the EU must prepare for all eventualities and must be enabled to negotiate with the United States from a position of strength. That is why it is now long past time for a deal,' he added.


RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Ireland consider withdrawing from FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers following draw with Israel
Basketball Ireland have issued a statement expressing concern over the ongoing crisis in Gaza, as they consider withdrawing from the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 qualifiers after being drawn in a group with Israel. At present, the governing body has spoken with FIBA Europe and are awaiting further clarification. "Basketball Ireland is extremely alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza," they outlined in a press release on Wednesday. "And as such we are assessing our next steps following today's FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers draw, which saw Ireland drawn in Group A alongside Israel, in addition to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Luxembourg." This draw echoes a similar lottery that saw the Irish women's basketball team participate against Israel during the Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers in November 2024. This fixture was met with protest from the Irish players who refused to shake hands with their opponents. Should Ireland fail to participate in their first away qualifier against Israel, they will be subject to a fine of up to €80,000. Subsequently, failure to take part in their return fixture against Israel will result in a fine of up to €100,000 and removal from the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2027 Qualifiers and the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2029 Qualifiers. If Ireland elects to withdraw from the Women's EuroBasket 2027 qualifying campaign altogether before it starts, they would be applied a fine of up to €30,000. Additionally, FIBA Europe rules state that they "may impose additional sanctions according to the FIBA Internal Regulations - Book 1 - General Provisions (Chapter 6)" which is concerned with 'disqualification from a competition in progress and/or exclusion from future competitions'.


Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
EU agrees €93bn worth of counter tariffs against the US if trade talks fail
EU member states have agreed to introduce €93bn worth of counter tariffs against the US, if the two sides fail to reach a deal by August 1. The counter-tariff measures are set to come into effect on August 7, if a deal is not reached. Tánaiste and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris said the Government was continuing to back EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič in his negotiations with the US. 'However, throughout the negotiations, we have been clear that while we would engage in good faith with the US, it was also necessary to prepare rebalancing measures should negotiations not be successful,' Mr Harris said. He denied the counter tariff proposals were escalatory, saying it was a 'continuation of our calm, measured preparation'. 'While we were successful in removing some key Irish sensitivities following intensive consultation with the European Commission, this package of rebalancing measures, if implemented, would have an adverse effect on European and Irish business,' Mr Harris said. However let me be clear, while we do not wish to see this list ever come into effect, the EU must prepare for all eventualities and must be enabled to negotiate with the United States from a position of strength. 'That is why it is now long past time for a deal.' The package itself is a consolidation of two separate tariff packages — one in response to US steel and aluminium valued at €21bn, while the second was compiled earlier this summer. US president Donald Trump has threatened to introduce 30% tariffs on all EU goods from August 1.