With the national election fast approaching, young voters couldn’t be more bothered by the economic realities they face. They are equally worried about the obstacles standing between them and home ownership. As Chris enters his 30s, he compares his life to the accomplishments of his father. His father was able to purchase a house and raise a family, all on the basis of a Year 10 certificate. At the centre of the campaign is Emily, a 37-year-old Gold Coast local, who expresses her sense of being ignored in past elections. These narratives highlight a broader sentiment shared among young Australians: the belief that hard work no longer guarantees success.
Chris hardly stops there Christin has been hugely active in education, accruing three degrees as well as a PhD all while working full-time. Yet at the same time, despite these great accomplishments, he is very much disappointed and jaded by this conventional route to success. He believes the formula of working hard to secure a good job and subsequently enjoying a stable life has become obsolete. Now owning a standalone house in Sydney ― as Chris had always hoped to do one day — seems impossible. This battle points to a growing concern among young people over housing affordability.
Emily’s story goes one step further, complicating this picture even more. Born into extreme poverty, she refused to be a victim of circumstance. Today, she makes more than $100,000 annually—and she’s saved up almost six figures! For all her successes, she strikes at the heart of the disappointment many of her colleagues feel. The question looms: why is it that these efforts still do not yield the same results as they did for previous generations?
The Impact of Housing Affordability
Housing affordability is an emerging top priority issue for younger voters in particular. As is obvious from the ABC’s YourSay initiative, which has attracted more than 4,600 submissions from Australians ostensibly concerned about it. Today’s 30 to 34-year-olds are the leading edge of a big change. It is the first time in almost 50 years that a majority of them are not homeowners. The latest figures from Australia’s national statistical office, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), paint a stark picture of this rise.
Julia Cook, a youth sociologist based at the University of Newcastle, argues that we need to consider the emotional impact of housing insecurity. “I was reading the surveys from participants who were in their early 30s, and … it was all [about] housing affordability,” she noted. Kos Samaras, director at Redbridge and head of the focus groups, finds this kind of harsh feeling. He argues that intergenerational inequality is a consistent strand of their conversations.
Rachel ViforJ, a housing and health researcher from Curtin University, dives into the subject further. She goes on to tell how the dream of home ownership changed the way young people saw themselves. “I think being able to achieve home ownership has always been like a bit of a marker … that you’re an independent adult who’s able to own an asset and own your own home,” she said. When achieving this milestone begins to seem unattainable, however, it can lead to destructive consequences. Aside from costing a fortune, it harms and warps how people perceive themselves and their future. “You take that away from a person, and it can actually have quite a detrimental impact on how they view themselves and their future,” she added.
Voices of Discontent
The frustration among young Australians is palpable. Most do not believe their effort is being compensated today like it was for their parents and grandparents. An unnamed participant expressed the common sentiment: “They were basically told all their lives that if they study hard, get the marks they need, get a good job … that should set them up for life. That’s clearly not the case.”
This disillusionment doesn’t just end at disappointment — it turns into being robbed. Another participant articulated this sentiment succinctly: “[They think]: ‘I’ve done everything they told me to do and I’m still screwed.’” Chris shares this perspective, stating, “It really does seem like [my hard work] just doesn’t matter, and the defining feature is just that I tried but I got in too late.”
Emily encapsulates her frustration by saying, “These days, even if both people who are partners work hard, or someone who’s single works very hard, they’re never going to achieve what previous generations achieved.” This idea is part of a greater story that young voters are more and more telling as they ramp up for a youthquake in the midterms.
The Political Landscape
Savvy legislators are starting to understand that they can’t just address these concerns in the abstract. As they try to reach younger voters, some candidates have even brought real, relatable personal stories into their campaigns. Notably, Mr. Dutton enlisted his son to share his own struggles saving for a house deposit as a young person. Such gestures help to strengthen the bond between these two distinct generations and recognize the challenges that today’s youth experience.
Experts warn that this conversation must continue beyond mere acknowledgments. An unspecified speaker remarked, “Now that conversation needs to continue because if it doesn’t … 2028 could be a lot more problematic.” This perspective indicates that unless systematic changes occur to address these issues, future elections may see heightened tension between generations.
