Monday, 18th June 2018

Australia’s youngest ever Senator, Jordon Steele-john, has today announced the Greens plan to ensure young people are empowered to take part in our democracy, including giving 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote.

Senator Steele-John said the last five years of Coalition Government had sought to silence the voices of young people through systematic funding cuts to youth advocacy bodies and engagement initiatives.

The Greens have brought this motion on the attacks against young LGBTIQ Australians supported by Prime Minister Scott Morrison as a matter of public importance because it is a matter of public importance. We have long known Mr Scott Morrison's views on LGBTIQ rights. His record on voting against marriage equality and campaigning against the Safe Schools antibullying program is well known.

Monday, 25th June 2018

Australian Greens Youth spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said today he was looking forward to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters scrutinising his bill to lower the voting age to 16, saying it was an historic opportunity for this important democratic reform to pass with bipartisan support.

Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Lowering Voting Age and Improving Democratic Participation) Bill 2018

JSJ – Second Reading Speech

For far too long, politics has failed to properly represent young people or the issues they care about.

There are many within this place, and beyond, who think young people don’t care about our world or haven’t earned the right to participate in our society, from a perceived lack of life experience or maturity.

Thursday, 21st June 2018

Australian Greens Youth spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has delivered his second reading speech on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Lower the Voting Age and Improve Democratic Participation) Bill 2018.

Senator Steele-John's speech will kick off debate on the issue of whether 16 and 17 year olds have a right to vote for the first time in Australian history.

Wednesday, 16 May 2018

Australian Greens Youth Affairs spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has pointed to the results of a Deloitte survey released today, which show young people’s faith in politics is at an all-time-low, as evidence we must lower the voting age to 16 in Australia.

“Politics doesn't hear young people, and doesn't value young people, because the old parties don't have to rely on them as a constituency, and therefore don't care about their issues or their future. It is absolutely shameful," Senator Steele-John said.

Monday, 30 April 2018

Australian Greens Youth spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has slammed Bill Shorten and the Labor party for failing to respond to calls to lower the voting age to 16 in Australia and for failing to acknowledge young people are not being heard in our democracy.

Senator Steele-John said today this was yet another classic example of the political establishment ignoring the voice of young people when they are asking to be heard, and was exactly the problem with our political system today.