LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ELECTIONS) (VOTING AGE) AMENDMENT BILL

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (10:37): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (10:38): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This is a very simple bill. Members will recall that previously I sought to have the voting age for state and local government changed. The house did not support that, the argument being that it would put us out of sync with the federal provision, which is ironical, given that South Australia introduced the 18-year-old voting, which the federal arrangements followed. I do not think we should always be coy about being innovative.

What I have done with this bill is take out any reference to the state elections. This purely applies to local government, for those aged 16 and 17 who wish to vote. We know that at council elections it is voluntary voting anyway. The LGA is debating, I understand, a motion similar to my bill in their forthcoming convention or gathering in a week or two, and my understanding is that the Prospect council is supporting a measure which is replicated in my bill.

It is not all that radical. Parts of Germany and many other parts of the world—Brazil and so on—have a provision similar to this. I do not think the sky will fall in. It is voluntary. Some young people probably would not bother to take up the option, but I think if we can get young people actively involved in the democratic process at the local government level that is a good thing.

If you think about a four-year election cycle, there are not going to be many opportunities for each group of 16 or 17 year olds. Every now and again, there will be some who will be able to vote but, most of the time, they will not be able to because of the four-year cycle. I think it is a productive and sensible measure. It does not link it to the state election, it has got nothing to do with that: it is purely for local government. Rather than what we often see with people having youth gatherings where we listen to young people—and people in local government do—let those who are actively seeking it have the chance to actually have a vote, and I think you will find that the needs and interests of young people will be taken into account more seriously than they currently are.

As I explain to young people, if you want anything, be prepared to accept that it will take a long time to happen. If young people, for example, want a skate park or a youth facility, it is not going to happen overnight. So, even if they were supporting something at the age of 16 or 17, if they had the chance to vote in the four-year cycle, nothing dramatic is likely to happen because it never does, although I must say that local governments usually act a bit more quickly than state and federal governments do.

The bill is very simple. It is just essentially a single-page outline. What it does is, as I have indicated, allows someone who is 16 or 17 to vote, if they wish—it is not compulsory—in local council elections which, as we know and I have said, only occur every four years anyhow. I commend the bill to the house.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Sibbons.