I would say its a lot more than just the youth vote;

Considering that Gillard running Labor and Abbot being in charge of the Liberals is sure to turn off anyone from voting either party (including people that really DO want to vote for either of the two parties) and of course that I imagine many Australians wanted either nicer treatment for refugees, neutral foreign policy and/OR anti-privatization policy, they of course turn to the next party that might seriously offer these, knowing that both Liberal and Labor stand for the opposite.

I would say Liberal and Labor are ONLY safe so long as they keep up their border-control policy (as only a minority of Australians likely turned to the Greens for this reason).
Of course, it's not going to protect them if the other two policy areas keep becoming a problem- as the decision of being ripped off and losing my infrastructure access, and/or dragged into foreign conflicts will eventually outweigh a few extra scimitar-waving crazies being allowed to move into our rougher neighborhoods.

I am truly amused by the thread and the subject in general.
Not taunting Friends who happen to be greens, just saying what I think.
Until about 25 I was Socialist, it has been said Costello Abbott and Turnbull had intentions to join Labor.
Tell me, any one understand that single lower house green won on Liberal voters preferences?
How did the greens go in Victoria.
What about the NSW I hate the ALP [even its members] Election, surely the greens got 20%? no?
Now lets get the goat out get it killed and look at the entrails.
Federal election, next month or 30 months away.
Labor will be thinking deeply about greens infestation , conservatives riding high, may just not preference them again.
So is 12% defensible? will greens gain, or find 9% or less the new reality?
If that election or one soon after is DD? get you money on one soon, what?
After a Double Dissolution election its all down hill for the greens.
Unpalatable? but out here in real Australia? be aware understand, Brown speaks in an unknown language to average Aussies.

"In generations gone by, a likely indicator of how a young person would vote was how their parents voted"

I'm sorry to tell you , but the above statement is complete Rubbish.You will find that the reverse ia actually True.

You are obviously looking at and trying to justify your current belief in the GREENS by making such a statement.

When I was young I was very much in favour of the forcible redistribution of property. Then I acquired some property. Once the 'youth vote' acquires some property, the same thing will happen to them.

In fact the only way Labor and the Greens can prevent their support falling away as people get richer is to try and head off every opportunity for that to happen.

Which explains a lot.

Kristian, I am sorry, but out in the sticks in rural Victoria where I live, I get the distinct impression that the under 25 voters couldn't give a stuff about the greens, and only slightly more about the other two parties. The young males seem more interested in either getting drunk, or getting laid, or both, while their female counterparts mainly seem to be just getting drunk or generally having a good time. It is only the ones who are into acadaemia like yourself who have any interest in politics. You really should get out and about a bit more and talk to your country cousins.

David

Kristian,
Your observation clearly tells me that there shouldn't be a youth vote in the first place. In my opinion the voting age should be 25. How can we ever get on top of things when plans drawn up by people who know get torn up by people whose only expertise is idealism.