Political apathy amongst young people is at an all-time high, a new study has shown
The essential media research survey asked people of all age groups to rate their interest in politics and showed that just 7% of respondents aged 18 – 24 considered themselves to be “very interested” in politics.
Architecture student Josh Carrolan, 18, said that he had no interest in politics and he had “no idea” who he would vote for at the federal election on September 7.
“At the moment because I’m still kind of young I’m still interested in mucking around with my mates doing those young sort of things,” Mr Carrolan said.
“As I get older it’s probably one of those things I’ll get more interested in.”
Melbourne University Student Union President Kara Hadgraft said that after joining the Labor party at 16, she had encountered varying levels of interest in politics among young people.
“There’s definitely a broad spectrum, there’s always people that are completely apathetic and there are always people who are super, super highly engaged. I think there are a large section of people in the middle who will become interested in an issue that effects them,” Ms Hadgraft said.
Ms Hadgraft also said that in an increasingly affluent society, many people lacked the personal connection to issues that motivated political interest and action.
“I think a part of it is a comfort thing and I think maybe that’s a little bit cynical but maybe also a little bit realistic.”
“When you talk to students about an issue that directly affects them you can see that engagement because people care about things that effect them and I don’t think that’s a selfish thing that’s just a realistic thing,” Ms Hadgraft said.
The lack of political interest from people under 24 was reflected in almost a quarter 18 – 24 year olds not being enrolled to vote.
This prompted the Australian Electoral Commission to wage a campaign in order to get new voters to enroll before yesterday’s deadline.
Electoral commissioner Ed Killesteyn said that young people were the most underrepresented portion of society on the country’s electoral roll.
“There are approximately half a million 18-24 year old voters missing from the electoral roll, out of a total 1.4 million Australians that are not yet enrolled to vote for the 2013 federal election,” Mr Killesteyn said in a statement.
