Why do you need to vote? Is it important?

Thanks for your question Lessio. Australia is a representative democracy. This means Australians elect members of parliament to represent us in the Australian Parliament and to make laws and decisions on our behalf. Australian citizens aged 18 years of age or older, have a right and a responsibility to enrol and vote in federal elections. Voting has been compulsory in Australia since 1924 when the Parliament passed the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1924.