By Lisa Macdonald
On April 17, ACT Green MLA Kerrie Tucker moved in the ACT Legislative Assembly to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 in the ACT. The Greens' move, the first attempt in Australia to introduce such legislation, is supported by research by both the Australian Youth Policy and Action Coalition and the Children's and Youth Law Centre.
Although they are not able to vote, people under the age of 18 in Australia can pay taxes, marry, drive cars (at age 17) and leave school (at age 15), and are fully responsible for their actions in the eyes of the law (at age 14).
In a briefing paper on the legislation, the ACT Greens point out that young people are affected by most decisions in our society but have little political power. "We expect them to be responsible citizens, but we deny them one of the most fundamental rights in our society", Tucker told the assembly in introducing the legislation.
The Greens propose that a reduction in the voting age go hand in hand with more education about the functioning of democracy and politics in schools and that there be a three year phase-in period.
Commenting on the choice of age 16, the Greens acknowledge that it is somewhat arbitrary and that there are good reasons why it should be 15 or even 14. "In our legal institutions", said Tucker, "there isn't an instantaneous transformation from childhood to adulthood; it is an evolving process".