Younger generations, namely Millennials and Generation Z, will surpass Baby Boomers in voter numbers during the upcoming Australian election.
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Alright, y'all, it's the big one - 18 million Aussies are gearing up to vote in this Saturday's national election. Here's the twist: for the first time in history, the young guns, or millennials and Gen Z, are gonna be the dominant voting bloc, surpassing the baby boomers. Kristina Kukolja dives into how this tactical shift could sway the election's outcome.
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PM ANTHONY ALBANESE: Listen up, TikTok, I've got some big news for y'all today.
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P DUTTON: I know this first TikTok is meant to be something lighthearted, but I might as well talk about something serious.
KK: Aussie Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of the center-left Labor Party, along with the conservative opposition coalition leader Peter Dutton, are hitting up social media, turning it into a key election battleground this year for the country's two major political parties. They got their eyes peeled on influencers, memes, and popular podcasts - like this one hosted by Abbie Chatfield, a former reality TV star.
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AC: So, I'd love to know, what's the lowdown on policy differences between the coalition and Labor?
KK: Now, uh-oh, scholars who've studied Australian elections say the politicians are chasing a fresh breed of voters with a different political slant. Nearly half of the 18 million eligible voters in this year's election are under the age of 45.
TK: I'm after shaking up the power, if possible, and handing it to a smaller party if I can.
KK: Brand new voter, 19-year-old Melbourne-based university student, Tomislav Krivacevic, is fed up with Australia's current politics.
TK: You can never forget the crappy stuff you see about politicians. So you've got this general sense they're not fighting for your best interests.
KK: And it seems these young voters are eying alternative political parties, like the greens and independents, which could block an outright majority in parliament for either Labor or the conservative bloc.
KS: These generations we're talking about, Gen Z and millennials, are going to vote differently than older Australians in the past.
KK: That's Kos Samaras, the director of Red Bridge Group, an election research agency.
KS: They're less inclined to support established institutions, more inclined to back anti-establishment movements, less interested in the major parties providing solutions for their issues, especially around housing. They're the drivers.
KK: And what's on their minds, polling suggests, is climate change, employment, healthcare, and the global impact of U.S. policies. Kos Samaras says, more than ever before, young Aussie voters are concerned about the world economy with inflation, a pandemic, and the fear that it'll get worse.
KS: They are worried about the state of the global economy, they've just endured a pandemic, inflationary crisis, they think the world economy's gonna take a dive, and it's gonna be them paying the toll.
K R B C: Research by Red Bridge Group shows the conservative opposition coalition has lost ground among millennial and Gen Z voters, mirroring a trend of them drifting away from center-right parties. And days out from the vote, the incumbent Labor government is ahead in the polls and leads with young voters too. Duncan McDonnell is a professor of politics at Griffith University and co-author of a study into Gen Z voting behavior. He says political messaging to young Australians may not be resonating.
DM: We found that almost half of Gen Z-ers go vote because they're afraid of being fined. It's compulsory voting that's getting them to the ballot box.
KK: However they vote in Saturday's election, young Aussie voters are changing the country's political landscape.
For NPR News, I'm Kristina Kukolja in Melbourne.
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The campaign strategies of the major political parties in Australia have been greatly influenced by the increased political participation of millennials and Gen Z voters in the 2025 national election. To win over these younger voters, they have turned to influencers, memes, and digital platforms, whereas issues such as climate change, housing affordability, employment security, and social justice have become pivotal in determining election outcomes[1][2][3].
Younger Australian voters show a desire for more accountability, innovation, and responsiveness from their politicians, which has prompted parties to address these demands in order to secure their support. This trend has brought about renewed focus on youth-related topics on the political agenda and threatened traditional party lines.
With young voters exhibiting less loyalty to established parties, increased electoral volatility and support for smaller parties or independents have become evident, potentially shattering the existing two-party political landscape. Moreover, heightened political engagement among young Aussie voters suggests more decisive election results that better reflect their preferences.
- The increased participation of millennials and Gen Z in the 2025 Australian national election has significantly influenced the campaign strategies of major political parties.
- To appeal to the younger demographic, parties are utilizing influencers, memes, and digital platforms, while addressing issues such as climate change, housing affordability, employment security, and social justice.
- Younger Australian voters seek more accountability, innovation, and responsiveness from their politicians, prompting parties to adapt their approach and address these demands.
- The shift in voting patterns among young Australians, with less loyalty to established parties, presents the potential for increased electoral volatility and support for smaller parties or independents, thereby challenging the traditional two-party political system.
