In just a week, Australians will head to the polls for the 2025 federal election, and for the nation’s 1.4 million first-time voters, issues like climate change and the rising cost of living are major concerns.
With analysts forecasting a close result on May 3, young Victorians have identified Indigenous reconciliation, housing affordability, Medicare, and HECS debt reforms as key election topics.
International issues on their minds
Ms Bourke said she was concerned about developments in the United States and the United Kingdom around gender equality and transgender rights, changes she hopes won’t happen in Australia.
“Ensuring everyone has equal rights and access is so important,” she said.
The Bachelor of Arts student, majoring in linguistics, said she had no difficulty deciding who to support.
“I’ve known who I would vote for since I turned 18. I know what I stand for,” she said.
Ms Bourke emphasized that this election would significantly affect young people’s futures, adding that young voters are often underestimated.
Like many others her age, Ms Bourke relies heavily on social media for political news, particularly listening to Abbie Chatfield’s podcast It’s A Lot.
“Abbie’s had a range of politicians on her show, so it’s helped me get a clearer understanding of specific policies,” she said.
Healthcare and affordability concerns
Aiden Shearer, who moved to Australia from Indonesia in 2015, will also cast his first vote this year.
The 20-year-old photography student from the Chisholm electorate in Melbourne’s east said affordable healthcare was a major priority.
“I had to find a dentist that accepts Afterpay,” Mr. Shearer said.
He also advocated for Medicare to cover neurodivergent diagnoses, sharing his struggle to afford an ADHD assessment, which can cost around $1,000.
Rental prices are another factor influencing Mr. Shearer’s vote; his family had to move when their rent rose and may have to move again due to another increase.
Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, family discussions, and tools like ABC’s Vote Compass have all played a role in shaping his political views.
Memes, in particular, capture Mr. Shearer’s attention, and he mentioned being impressed by Greens Senator Nick McKim’s humorous yet advocacy-focused Twitch streams.
“He’s really funny while also pushing important issues,” he said.
The challenge of moving out
Housing policy is the top concern for university student and retail worker Natalie Fleming.
Unlike her mother, who moved out at her age, Ms Fleming, 20, expects to stay living at home for the foreseeable future.
“I want to own a house before 30, but I don’t see that happening,” she said.
The RMIT journalism student, who also lives in Chisholm, expressed frustration over the high cost of tertiary education.
“We’ll be burdened by these debts for life,” she said.
Ms Fleming is also passionate about addressing climate change, reforming bulk-billing, ensuring continued mental health funding, and advancing women’s rights.
As a swing voter still undecided, Ms Fleming said greater honesty from politicians could sway her vote.
“They sell us dreams they don’t deliver on, and it’s frustrating,” she said.
For political information, Ms Fleming primarily uses TikTok and Instagram, following content from influencers like Abbie Chatfield as well as ads from major parties.
Conversations with friends who share her values also influence her views.
The growing influence of new media
Media expert Denis Muller explained that “new social media” platforms like podcasts and TikTok have become key tools for engaging younger voters, driven largely by influencer culture.
Dr Muller, a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Advancing Journalism, said these platforms are attractive for politicians because of their massive reach.
He noted that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese once gave a 90-minute interview to a social media influencer, something traditional outlets like the ABC could not secure.
While influencers are highly effective at engaging youth, Dr Muller cautioned that they are not neutral journalists.
“Influencers don’t offer hard-hitting interviews,” he said.
