One of the main roles of the Parliament is to make laws for the people of Australia. The law in Australia says that you have to be 18 to vote. But what if some people think the voting age should be lowered to 16?
Let's get started
We've discussed lowering the voting age in Australia to 16 so I've worked with my department to prepare a bill. I think we should introduce it to the parliament, do you agree?
Clerk, read the title of the bill.
First reading, the Voting Age Bill. A Bill for an Act to lower the voting age to 16.
The question is that the bill be read a second time
We speak for the young Australians who want to vote. 16-year-olds want to have a say in our democracy.
The voting age in most countries around the world is 18 or older. Australia would be one of the few countries to let 16-year-olds vote.
We at the Democratic Heritage Society would be very reluctant to change the voting age. The system is working well and doesn't need to be changed.
A vote on the bill will now be taken. The question is that the bill be read a second time. Those who agree say 'aye'.
Those who support the bill move to the right of the Speaker's chair. Those who oppose the bill move to the left of the Speaker's chair.
Those who are against say 'no'.
Second reading, the Voting Age Bill. A Bill for an Act to lower the voting age to 16.
A vote on the bill will now be taken. The question is that the bill be read a third time. Those who agree say 'aye'. Those who are against say 'no'.
Those who support the bill move to the right of the Speaker's chair. Those who oppose the bill move to the left of the Speaker's chair
Third reading, the Voting Age Bill. A Bill for an act to lower the voting age to 16.
I propose an amendment. The bill should say that 16- and 17-year-olds can vote if they have a job. If young people are working and paying tax they have earned the right to vote.
Clerk, read the title of the bill.
First reading, the Voting Age Bill. A Bill for an Act to lower the voting age to 16.
The question is that the bill be read a second time.
The teachers of Australia would like to see 16-year-olds get the vote, but if you want us to teach more about elections and politics we won't have time for subjects like maths and science.
If the voting age is lowered to 16, the age to enrol to vote should be lowered to 14 or 15. Elections Australia would need time and money make these changes.
We believe that all teenagers deserve a say. We think that the voting age should be lowered to 13.
A vote on the bill will now be taken. The question is that the bill be read a second time. Those who agree, say 'aye'.
Those who support the bill move to the right of the President's chair. Those who oppose the bill move to the left of the President's chair.
Those who are against say 'no'.
Second reading, the Voting Age Bill. A Bill for an Act to lower the voting age to 16.
I propose an amendment. This bill should say that Australians can choose to vote when they turn 16 but have to vote when they turn 18.
The amendment has been agreed to.
A vote on the bill will now be taken. The question is that the bill be read a third time. Those who agree, say 'aye'. Those who are against, say 'no'.
Those who support the bill move to the right of the President's chair and those who oppose the bill move to the left of the President's chair.
Third reading, the Voting Age Bill. A Bill for an Act to lower the voting age to 16.
The members disagree.
Division vote!
The senators disagree.
Division vote!
The government thinks that 16-year-olds should have the right to vote. If they are responsible enough to get a job, they are responsible enough to vote.
16-year-olds are always on social media where they can learn about issues, politics and democracy. They have all information they need to vote sensibly.
I've been flooded with emails from young Australians who want the voting age to be lowered, so I'll support the government's bill.
The opposition do not agree with this bill. For most 16-year-olds studying and finding a job is hard enough, they don't need the added stress of voting.
Most 16-year-olds don't care about parliament and will ask their parents who they should vote for. This bill just gives parents an extra vote.
This amendment is not fair. We don't tell other Australians they have to have a job to vote, why do it with 16-year-olds.
If 16-year-olds have a job it shows they are responsible and engaged with society. They deserve the right to vote.
I propose an amendment. The bill should say that 16 and 17 year olds can vote if they have a job. If young people are working and paying tax they have earned the right to vote.
This penalises students who want to focus on study instead of working, why can't they vote?
We will not be supporting this amendment because it will be impossible to manage. Young people get hired and fired from jobs all the time.
The government wants to see active and engaged young Australians. 16-year-olds will take voting seriously and be more connected to our democracy.
It's only fair that 16-year-olds should vote. In a few years they will be adults and they should have a say about the society they inherit.
This would be a very big change for Australia and the government has not convinced me that giving 16-year-olds the vote is a risk worth taking.
Some 16-year-olds may be ready and able to vote, but some may not. The fairest thing to do is to make it optional for 16-year-olds to vote.
There is research that says that 16-year-olds do not have fully developed decision making skills. If we believe the science we should not lower the voting age.
A lot of 16-year-olds are under a lot of pressure. Lowering the voting age could raise the stress levels of young Australians.
This amendment will give 16-year-olds the power to vote, which is what the government wants.
I think this amendment empowers young people by giving them the choice to vote or not.
I propose an amendment. This bill should say that Australians can choose to vote when they turn 16 but have to vote when they turn 18.
This amendment gives more choices to young people, and democracy is all about giving people choices.
We don't want to give 16-year-olds the vote. However we will support this amendment because it gives 16-year-olds the chance to opt out of voting, and we think a lot of them will.
We don't think 16-year-olds should vote. However if the voting age is lowered to 16 this amendment would ensure that busy or stressed 16-year-olds could choose not to vote.
If the government wants to change the voting age to 16 it will need to write a bill setting out what the new law will be. A bill is an idea for a law.
In a Cabinet meeting the Prime Minister and senior ministers meet to decide which bills they want to introduce to parliament.
The bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives and can now be debated.
Members now make speeches explaining why they agree or disagree with the bill.
The House of Representatives might choose to send the bill to a committee to learn more about it. The committee seeks information about the bill from members of the community, experts and interest groups.
The committee now writes a report which is presented to the House of Representatives. Members may use evidence from the committee's investigation when deciding whether they support the idea of lowering the voting age.
The members now vote on whether they agree with the main idea of the bill. First they vote with their voices by saying 'aye' or 'no'. If there is disagreement, they have a division vote.
The members have chosen their sides and votes, and the government has won the vote.
What if the members vote against the bill?
During consideration in detail members may propose, debate and vote on changes to the bill, which are called amendments.
Members would now debate and vote on that amendment.
Click on the various highlighted members to hear their speech.
Members would now vote on the amendment. Unfortunately for the opposition the government doesn't want to change bill, and the government has a majority in the House of Representatives. Therefore the vote on the amendment would fail.
The members now vote on the bill, which may have been amended, for a final time in the House of Representatives.
The members have chosen their sides, and the majority of members have voted for the bill.
The bill has passed the House of Representatives.
What if the members vote against the bill?
The Serjeant-at-Arms now takes the bill to the Senate.
The bill has been introduced into the Senate and is ready to be debated.
Senators make speeches explaining why they agree or disagree with the bill.
Click on the highlighted members to hear more.
The Senate might send the bill to a committee to learn more about it. The committee researches the bill by asking interested people to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences. These people can be members of the community, experts and interest groups.
The committee now writes an official report for the Senate. Senators may use evidence from the committee's investigation to help them to decide if they support the idea of lowering the voting age.
The senators now vote on the main idea of the bill.
The members have chosen their sides, and a majority of senators have voted for the bill.
What if the senators vote against the bill?
During committee of the whole senators may suggest, debate and vote on proposed amendments to the bill.
Senators now debate and vote on that amendment.
The senators would now vote on the amendment to make voting optional at 16, starting with a vote on the voices. This amendment would be passed with a vote on the voices because the government, opposition, minor party and independent senators all agree with it. There would be no need for a division vote.
The Senators have finished debating the bill and considering amendments. They will now put the bill to a final vote.
The Senators have chosen their sides, and the government has won the vote.
The bill has passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
What if the senators vote against the bill?The bill is now sent to the Governor-General. If the Governor-General is satisfied that the bill has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, they give the bill Royal Assent.
Now that the bill has become a law the Minister must put the new law into action. They must make sure young people know about the new voting age, update the electoral roll and take any other actions necessary to give 16-year-olds the vote.
If the Minister ever thinks that the law needs to be changed again, they can bring that idea to Parliament as a new bill.
