Young Australians Deserve Better Than Stereotypes and Broken Promises

Young Australians deserve leaders who believe in them.

Recent comments from Pauline Hanson claiming young people “don’t want to work” and are “tired by early afternoon” do not reflect the reality facing many young Australians.

Young Australians are working harder than ever to build a future for themselves, while grappling with the highest housing costs, rising rents, soaring bills and growing financial pressures.

Shadow Minister for Youth Angie Bell MP said young Australians deserve support, not stereotypes.

“Ms Hanson’s comments towards young people are frankly insulting, unfair, and completely out of touch,” Ms Bell said.

“Generalised statements about an entire generation do nothing to address the challenges young Australians face.”

“Most young Australians are doing everything they can to get ahead; studying, working, building careers, starting businesses and trying to save for a home – the last thing they need is politicians writing them off as lazy.”

“Young Australians don’t need lectures. They need opportunities.”

While One Nation attacks young Australians, Labor continues to mislead them.

The Albanese Labor Government talks about intergenerational equity, yet its policies are making it harder for young Australians to buy a home, start a business, build savings and create financial security.

After four years of Labor, young Australians are facing lower living standards, higher costs and a growing national debt burden.

“Labor talks about fairness between generations, but young Australians are paying more while getting less,” Ms Bell said.

“They’re paying more for housing, groceries, energy and taxes, while the dream of home ownership slips further out of reach.”

“Intergenerational equity should mean creating more opportunities for the next generation, not making it harder for them to get ahead.”

Ms Bell said the Coalition’s plan is focused on restoring opportunity for young Australians and helping them get ahead by:

• The Tax Back Guarantee to end bracket creep by indexing tax thresholds to inflation, ensuring young Australians keep more of every pay rise instead of being pushed into higher tax brackets simply because the cost of living has increased.
• Repealing Labor’s higher taxes on housing, savings, investment and small business, to protect the economic opportunities young Australians rely on to build wealth and create jobs.
• A migration and housing plan linked to housing supply that restores balance to the housing market, while a $5 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund unlocks up to 400,000 new homes.
• Building costs reduction through practical reforms to make new homes more affordable and easier to deliver.
• The Future Generations Fund to ensure resource windfalls are invested responsibly to reduce debt and fund nation-building infrastructure, rather than being consumed by short-term spending.

“The Coalition wants to restore the role of Government to be an enabler of opportunity, not a barrier to success,” Ms Bell said.

“Every young Australian should be able to dream big, work hard and have confidence that they can get ahead, own a home, build a career and create a secure future.”

“Unlike One Nation, we believe in the potential of young Australians. Unlike Labor, we have a plan to give them the opportunities they deserve.”