Australia's forthcoming election will witness a higher turnout of Millennials and Generation Z voters compared to Baby Boomers.

Rewritten Article:

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It's shaping up to be an interesting election year in Australia, as a whopping 18 million Aussies register to vote for the national election this Saturday. And for the first time ever, youngsters, like millennials and Gen Z, are set to be the biggest voting bloc, overtaking the baby boomers. Let's see how their participation could shift the outcome.

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PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE: Alright, TikTok, brace yourselves! I've got some news to break today.

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PETER DUTTON: You're all eagerly waiting for my first TikTok, and I promise you it's gonna be a blast - or maybe not, who knows?

KRISTINA KUKOLJA, BYLINE: Talk about politics getting hip! Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of the Labor Party and the conservative coalition leader Peter Dutton are hitting up social media to win votes. These days, it's all about influencers, memes, and popular podcasts – like this one hosted by Abbie Chatfield, a former reality TV star.

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ABBIE CHATFIELD: So I'd love to know, what’s the deal between the coalition and Labor when it comes to policies?

KUKOLJA: But politicos who've studied elections warn – these politicians are targeting a crowd with a completely different political outlook. Almost half of the 18 million eligible voters for this election are under 45.

TOMISLAV KRIVACEVIC: I want to grab the power from the big parties, if I can – you know, hand it to a smaller party if possible.

KUKOLJA: First-time voter, 19-year-old Tomislav Krivacevic, studies in Melbourne and is fed up with the state of Australian politics.

KRIVACEVIC: You remember the worst things you see about politicians, so you've got this idea they might not have your best interests at heart.

KUKOLJA: Analysts say young voters are turning to alternative political parties, like the Greens and independents, which could disrupt an outright parliamentary majority for either Labor or the conservative bloc.

KOS SAMARAS: These generations – Gen Z and millennials – are going to vote quite differently than older Australians have in the past.

KUKOLJA: That's Kos Samaras, director of the Red Bridge Group, an election research agency.

SAMARAS: They're less likely to support established institutions, and they're way more likely to be attracted to antiestablishment movements. They've got little faith in the major parties coming up with solutions to the challenges they're facing, like housing and healthcare.

KUKOLJA: And what they care about? Polling suggests it's climate change, employment, and healthcare, but there's an added emphasis on global impact from U.S. policies, too.

KUKOLJA: Research by the Red Bridge Group reveals the conservative opposition coalition has lost ground among millennial and Gen Z voters, a pattern noted in previous elections. With days to go before the vote, the governing Labor party is ahead in the polls, and they have a strong lead with younger voters.

DUNCAN MCDONNELL: We found that almost half of young voters in Australia make their minds up on the day of the election. But that doesn't always mean they're choosing sides due to strong political conviction. It's compulsory voting that's getting many of them to the ballot box.

KUKOLJA: Regardless of how they vote on Saturday, younger Australian voters are calling the shots and reshaping the political landscape.

For NPR News, I'm Kristina Kukolja in Melbourne.

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Enrichment Data:

Compulsory Voting Influence: It's worth noting that in Australia, voting is compulsory, so many young voters have become so disengaged that they vote primarily to avoid fines, rather than due to strong political engagement [1].
Disengagement and Engagement: While some Gen Z voters are disengaged, others are highly invested in politics. This inconsistent level of political engagement is characteristic of younger generations [1].
Influence of Social Media and Online Platforms: Social media platforms and online podcasts have become increasingly influential in engaging younger voters. Political influencers and podcasters aiming at younger audiences are playing a bigger role in shaping their political views and interests [1][2].

The 2022 Australian election is anticipated to see a significant shift, with young voters, including millennials and Gen Z, surpassing baby boomers as the largest voting bloc.
In an effort to appeal to the youth demographic, politicians like Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are leveraging social media platforms and podcasts, aiming to reach the younger generations through influencers, memes, and popular shows.
The outlook of politics in Australia is being reshaped by the disengagement and engagement patterns of younger voters, who have traditionally distanced themselves from traditional political parties, preferring anti-establishment movements and smaller parties like the Greens and independents.
The generational divide in Australian politics has been a recurring trend, with research from the Red Bridge Group indicating that the conservative opposition coalition has consistently lost support among millennial and Gen Z voters.
According to the Red Bridge Group, younger Australian voters are less likely to back established political institutions and instead are drawn to movements with progressive policies, such as climate change action, employment opportunities, and healthcare reform.
While the impact of younger voters on the election outlook is undeniable, it's crucial to consider the varying levels of political engagement among Gen Z and millennial voters. Compulsory voting regulations may play a substantial role in influencing voter turnout, with almost half of young voters deciding on the election day itself, often due to a lack of strong political conviction.