The “age of majority” is referred to, when discussing adult age, in the context that the majority of countries worldwide have set 18 years of age as the legally accepted adult age.

Brain development however hasn't reached its full adult weight by the age of 21 and is not fully developed by its 25 year age bracket. This in my view, means many young people lose out in terms of future life.

I therefore believe Australia must move away from “the majority” and raise the adult age in Australia to at least 21, which will benefit young people because:

1. Students need to spend more time in school for advancement
2. Teenagers can't decide their future careers at ages like 16 or 17
3. Being young, they need more time to spend with friends and family
4. People need time to better understand themselves as individuals
5. Many U.S states allow alcohol use at 21, upon seeing the impacts

Many young people now are still living at home after 18 years of age, particularly for financial reasons, not understanding their future and lack of full mindset development.

Will the Federal Government take action to benefit future generations?

NathanJ, even when young, different people have very different needs, but you don't seem to realise that.

I can't think of a single real benefit of your proposal. And the only thing I can think of that some would perceive as a benefit is that it would make it harder to vote the government out.

‘morning NathanJ,

You mentioned adult age but confused things with “age of majority”, “legally accepted adult age”, and brains at “full adult weight”.

Does this mean we can measure intelligence by the Kilo?

Since this seems so difficult to define I humbly offer my own suggestions.

To Qualify to vote you need to be in full time employment, or support a family, are not a State dependent unless aged or disabled, or in full time education.

Lifetime exclusion for criminal sentences greater than one year, are an non-discharged bankrupt, have any outstanding fines unpaid for more than six months.

To qualify on any of the grounds listed above you would also need to be over the age of 65.

Other than these conditions you have my vote.

Aidan,

The argument for not supporting raising the adult age, even if for say one year - based on voting (because some people don't like the current Liberal Government) is very selfish - particularly if coming from older adults.

Many students are being told by teachers, they need to know what they want, in terms of future employment at very young ages, when you look at say a 100 year potential age level.

Younger people need some more personal time for that consideration and life in general. In terms of brain capacity, many have undertaken stupid irresponsible activities, alcohol consumption, been killed in car accidents (not of their fault, or of their own fault) or committed suicide due to depression for example.

Younger people need time to think, reflect about future life and responsibility.

Extra non adult years also enables younger people, at a primary school level to have more quality time for essential learning in terms of reading, writing and maths development, preparing these students better in terms going to high school.

With even say one extra year of (non adult) based education there are also opportunities for better connections to employers - say a mix of classroom studies and on site training.

Life is not simply about putting a piece of paper in a ballot box.

Yes definitely, at least on voting.

Nathan career choices no longer have the same importance as they once did. Todays world is changing so quickly that many of todays jobs won't exist in another 10 years, & many we can't yet imagine will come into being. Many people will have to retrain more than once in their life. I do see your point however for careers that take a very long time to master.

Kids can get a job, marry, buy a house, car & have kids of their own from a quite young age, after all it is only their lives they are stuffing up. But voting on the other hand, really does require a bit of experience & maturity.

Hell I even had a couple of 20 something young ladies tell me they had voted for the Palmer United Party. Now that shows a level of naivety & immaturity that has no place in a polling booth. It is almost as bad when they are foolish enough to vote green, before they grow up.

Yep voting age should be about 35 or so, but I guess we could settle on 25 for the moment.

NathanJ, I'm puzzled why opposing your gerrymander because I think it would be very bad for the country could in any way be construed as selfish.

There is indeed a problem of students deciding what they want at a young age and subsequently finding they can't get it. But raising the adult age would not begin to address that. Nor would it give young people any more personal time for that consideration and life in general, and I very much doubt it would be at all effective in deterring stupid irresponsible activities.

Young people don't all have the same requirements, but time to think and reflect about what they haven't experienced is generally not what's needed.

If you want primary school to last an extra year, don't pretend it has anything to do with when anyone's legally an adult. Likewise with high school – I completed high school before turning 17, for example. And as I recall, I didn't find it very interesting, so I doubt an extra year or more of it would've helped at all. What would've helped immensely was one of the traineeships that are available now but weren't then.

Life is not simply about catering to your stereotypes.