Young people oppose reduced wage

Young people oppose reduced wage

By Sean Malloy

An Australian Democrats survey has found strong opposition from young people to reduced youth wages.

The survey questioned 550 15-25 year-olds. Its results are reported in a document called Youth Poll '92.

The poll found that "69% of young people think that youth wages should 'definitely not' be reduced beyond current levels. Only 2% think that wages for young people 'definitely' should be reduced".

It also found that "most young people support trade unions".

Quoting from The Travesty of Youth Wages by Bruce Wilson, the report notes that as many as 40% of full-time workers under the age of 21 receive wages below the poverty line.

On higher education, 77% of the young people said that the level of Austudy payments was not adequate. "... over two thirds of young people oppose fees and charges for further education ... 80% of unemployed young people do not support fees for education."

The survey also found that 68% of the respondents have tried marijuana and that 71% believe it should be legal.

Eighty-four per cent of young people supported condom vending machines in schools and 93% think tampon vending machines should also be installed.

Sixty-six per cent said that the environment is being seriously damaged by human activity.

"A majority of young people believe that too much money is spent on defence in Australia. 33% believe that the country's defence budget is 'definitely' too high while 9% believe it is 'definitely not'."

"Only 3% of young Australians consider their portrayal in the news media fair", notes the report. "The majority of respondents (57%) feel strongly that they are portrayed unfairly in the news media."

From GLW issue 86