It is just another divide and control policy from a PM who lies about wanting "social cohesion". The differences between generations are just the same as they have always been - up to now. Albanese will make them much worse, as he has made everything in Australia worse.

Scott invokes the Ghost of Christmas Past, Harold Macmillan an old conservative hack, born in the 19th century, and we celebrate the 40th anniversary of dear old Harold's demise this year. In the 1950's Harold believed the Poms, "never had it so good", I suppose he was right as only a few short years beforehand they were being bombed out of existence in yet another capitalist war. They had it so good that 3 million of the buggers left the joint post war, never to return. 1.5 million ended up welcomed to Australia as 10 pound Poms, good on em'. Like a true blue blooded conservative Harold believed if the worker had a crust of bread, providing it wasn't mouldy, then he never had it so good. Enough about Old Harold.

Why do conservatives believe life is not meant to be easy, well for the lower classes that is, not applying that to themselves of course. Scott claims that; "young people today from when they are born, start school, attend university in increasing numbers, leave home, form relationships, and enter the workforce, enjoy living standards, benefits, personal freedom, and independence greater than any previous generation." If we can improve the lives of our children, and in turn the lives of our grandchildren then so it should be. The claim that tackling Intergenerational inequity will create bad karma for future generations is a nonsense attempt to maintain the status quo of bias privilege for the rich of today, at the expense of those deserving of a better future tomorrow, our very own children and grandchildren!

Don't agree Scott.

Both sides are struggling for concrete ideas as Aust's golden days are over.

That is the first reality that any fair dinkum commentator should acknowledge.

Lets see what the centre-right parties come up with, but merely accusing Labor of populism through the young vote is complete rubbish imo

Hi Paul,

" I suppose he was right as only a few short years beforehand they were being bombed out of existence in yet another capitalist war. "

How was WWII a capitalist war?

Chris

"Aust's golden days are over"

I've been reading about life in rural Scotland in the 1930s. Even days under Magoo are comparatively golden. Such pessimism. What about the renewable energy superpower stuff? Don't you buy into the halfwit hype? The historical trend is for improvement provided you don't have too many decisions being made by idiots and grifters.

Yes, living standards are higher now than in the past, and have mostly risen steadily since the industrial revolution, with some temporary shocks due to wars and recessions. And quality of life more broadly has improved – we are healthier, more educated and live longer than previous generations.

But in two respects the argument that younger generations have it tough has merit. Housing affordability is a real concern, with far more young Australians unable to afford to buy their first home than in the past. This has important implications not just for the nature of their accommodation but for their security, lifetime wealth accumulation and sense of home.

And though living standards are higher than 20 or 40 years ago, they fell sharply during the pandemic and have since stagnated. Real wages are lower than they were 15 years ago. Real household disposable income is less than it was 10 years ago – one of the worst performances in the OECD. And with poor productivity and the housing stock failing to keep pace with population growth, there is little prospect of a return to the old “normal” of most young people having a reasonable expectation that they will own their own home and enjoy real growth in living standards over their working lives.

This week’s budget will do little to address the underlying problems, and framing the problem as boomer privilege vs gen Z victimhood is wrong. Young people have been let down by politicians and policymakers, not their parents and grandparents.