Australian parliaments must radically shift how they engage with young people to build a more resilient and future-focused democracy, according to a new paper published in the Australian Journal of Political Science.
Associate professor Sarah Moulds, a senior law lecturer at the University of South Australia and a human rights advocate, argued that young people must be recognised as citizens now rather than citizens-in-waiting if Australia’s democratic institutions are to keep pace with social change.
“Outdated assumptions about younger people are preventing Australia’s democratic institutions from keeping pace with social change,” Moulds said.
The article highlights a long-standing pattern in which young people are framed either as vulnerable figures needing protection or as figures of risk who must be shielded from political discussion. Both narratives, she argued, limit young people who want to participate in democracy.
Young Australians are not apathetic or disengaged, according to Moulds, who is editor of the Australasian Parliamentary Review and co-founder of the Rights Resource Network SA.
“Young Australians are not apathetic or disengaged. They are expressing their democratic views in ways that are meaningful to them and not aligned to conventional party politics,” she said.
These forms of engagement include online activism, protests and issue-driven campaigns, though such activities are rarely acknowledged within parliamentary settings.
International models show promise
The article draws on examples from New Zealand, Wales, and Scotland, where parliaments have worked to give young people greater authority in politics.
In New Zealand, the Rito o te Pāremata youth reference group has reshaped parliamentary engagement by allowing young people to co-design engagement strategies and advise on parliamentary practice.
“Their contributions are valued as expert knowledge rather than supplementary input,” Moulds said.
Wales operates a directly elected Welsh Youth Parliament, where 16- and 17-year-olds vote for representatives who contribute to parliamentary processes and policymaking. Both Wales and Scotland have lowered the voting age to 16, with research showing early voting can help embed lifelong democratic habits.
Reform momentum building
The Federal Parliament’s 2024 Inquiry into Civics Education and Political Participation acknowledged the need for more diverse and meaningful youth input, though Moulds argued systemic change will require more than modest adjustments.
“Creating the conditions for genuine intergenerational fairness means reshaping our parliamentary culture to value and listen to young people’s views,” she said.