I can’t vote – so can you vote for me?

Molly Trevaskis

The federal government has the power to do so much to benefit the citizens of Australia. But how much we are benefited, depends who we elect.

As you probably know, there is a federal election coming up tomorrow.

As someone who doesn’t have the power to vote, it makes me sad to see how many people just throw their vote away.

With power comes responsibility and I believe that it is just as much your responsibility as a voter as it is the government’s to fix Australia’s issues and make a bright future.

More important than taxes

We have the ability to take climate action and help the earth, get rid of the gender pay gap and lower unemployment rates, but only if the right people are in power.

Over the past two months, I’ve seen so many ads for parties campaigning to get taxes reduced, boost investment or put a travel ban in place but I think we are avoiding the biggest problem: Climate change.

As a young person, I can see the world crashing down around us but I cannot vote so essentially, I am powerless.

It’s hard to see more money going towards schools and hospitals than towards acting on climate change.

Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it and it helps to make our country stronger as a society.

But what good is a well-funded school or hospital if we don’t have an earth stable enough to build them on?

Many parties, from what I gather, are so focused on the Australian economy. But there are things more important than money.

No planet ‘B’

All these parties say they are working towards a better future for the youth of Australia but no-one has asked us what we think would make a better future. Young people have a voice and we will use it to get what we think is right and just.

There is talk here and there of cleaning up the country or doing something about climate change but it’s not dominating the election as much as it should. When you look at all the science and proof that it’s really and becoming dangerous, it’s a surprise that it not front-and-centre.

Because Australia is exposed to extreme weather, we are one of the most vulnerable developed countries in the world to climate change.

A report released by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology states that the 2018-19 summer was the country’s hottest on record. This only reestablishes the need to take climate action.

I think that we need to focus more on climate action and the opinions of young people. We don’t have a ‘Planet B’ and it’s up to everyone to do something about it. Young people are the generation of the future and it’s time to start listening.