In a progressive move the Independent MP Monique Ryan supported by the Greens, intends to introduce a private members bill before the parliament which would give voting rights to 16 and 17 year old's. A New Zealand court ruling has found the current voting age there of 18 is discriminatory, there is now every likelihood that a debate on the subject will take place in the New Zealand parliament shortly. Austria, Scotland and Wales along with many other countries have already given the vote to those aged 16 and 17. The fact many young people work, pay taxes, drive motor vehicles and have babies suggests why shouldn't they also vote.

"The Greens MP Stephen Bates, the party’s youth spokesperson, told Guardian Australia he welcomed “support across the crossbench” for lowering the voting age. He noted the New Zealand decision had “mobilised a lot of people” in Australia."

There is a possibility Labor would also support the move. Maybe not the Liberals and Nationals, as they hardly get a vote from the Millennials and those aged younger now. Its unlikely 16 and 17 year old's would even consider voting Coalition or for those of their ilk, as they are perceived by young people as totally out of touch. But the right wing parties can take comfort in the knowledge that they have exclusively nailed the supercentenarian vote in this country, all 23 of them, although I'm not sure how many are still living and possibly voting, 2 me thinks.

This is another Green obsession to force society even further to the infantile Left.

Though the brain may be done growing in size by the teen years, it’s not done developing and maturing. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for skills like planning, prioritization, and impulse control, may not finish developing until the mid- to late-20s.

In the case of some OLO posters, the brain has still not developed fully, and is obviously never going to.

The voting age should be raised to at least 25.

Infantile and more manageable. Look how the climate loonies have managed and exploited that Swedish kid.

ttbn, Aldi's have a special on "prefrontal cortex's" this week, see if you can pick yourself up one, but then where would you put it, its needs the rest of a brain to function... humm I see a problem for you.

"In the case of some OLO posters, the brain has still not developed fully, and is obviously never going to." I have to agree with you ttbn, with our band of forum octogenarian the seed was planted at birth, but some 80 years on its failed to germinate....maybe it never will. I wont ask you what you think until you've done your Aldi shopping.

I would see no problem with my young granddaughter voting, she has more political savvy than many on the forum.

Dear Paul,

Pro. Faith Gordon of ANU points out that -

"You can apply to join the defence forces at 16.
You can have sexual intercourse legally at 17. And you
can be charged with criminal offences, but you can't
vote?"

Youn people already make a host of important contributions
to socio-economic and political activities and have many
responsibilities in society. If they do so much why
don't they deserve the basic right to vote?

You have to be 17 before you can join the military services, you can apply before that.

The same stuff was reeled off prior to the voting age being lowered to 18. The fact remains, the brain is not fully developed before the age of 25, and there are a hell of a lot of important skills and emotions missing before then.

What will be next? Vote after weaning? When they've passed toilet training?