What do young people want to know before the state election?
On Thursday 19 February YACSA hosted Pizza and Politics, a pre-election forum just for young people.
Our panel, made up of: Hon Nat Cook MP (Labor), Hon Michelle Lensink MLC (Liberal), Hon Connie Bonaros MLC (SA Best) and Melanie Selwood (Greens).
Below are all the questions that were asked on the night, as well as additional questions submitted in person or online. The questions we ran out of time for are being passed on for answers from our panel, which we will pass on to all the young people who attended when we receive them.
Please note: duplicate questions may be omitted.
Questions asked at Pizza and Politics
“What do you consider the number one issues for young people and what meaningful, timely and measurable steps are you going to take to counter it?”
“ In one sentence, what’s some advice you would give to a young peson who is disillusioned and untrusting of politicians and politics?”
“As a youth leader and award-winning change maker, almost all opportunities have come via social media and without social media, there is an opportunity gap where young people struggle to create and share opportunities.
How do panelists plan on filling that gap?”
“Do you think there is an issue with the lack of social cohesion in Australia? If yes, what is the cause and what do you or your party plan to do about it?”
“Why have successive governments across party lines been unable to solve the health management crisis? For example, ramping, elective surgery problems.
And why has Australia Americanised our healthcare system to such an extent where those who have the resources have the best treatment for any problem, while those who cannot afford the resources have to suffer poorer health outcomes with longer wait times, in some cases waiting years for critical care?”
“Why does the Liberal Party want to repeal the Voice to Parliament?”
“Currently we’ve been noticing a trend that volunteers are being forced to skip volunteer roles as well as community social events to work extra shifts to keep up with the cost of living. When community engagement and social events are a luxury, we’re risking burnout and isolation.
Our volunteers service and provide informal education to 5,000 young people across the state, and we feel that this volunteer infrastructure and mental health of our members is being put at risk.
How will you ensure that the cost of living doesn’t continue to hollow out our youth volunteers and trade our mental well-being and recreational opportunities for economic survival?”
“How important is it to hold the government accountable and major parties accountable?”
“Do you think Australia Day has a future on January 26th?”
“How do each of you intend to reach regional and rural young people, without social media as it can be ineffective, and do you have any measures that you might take to reach isolated communities?”
Additional questions submitted online ahead of Pizza and Politics
“What’s one policy from another party that you believe is a great idea and why?”
“For the Liberal representative: What’s a criticism of the liberal party that you believe is fair?”
“A recent report by ABC news outlines that civics education test scores nationwide are at an all time low. Do you see this as an issue for South Australia? If so, what specific, measurable and timely steps will you take to address this?”
“How do you ensure younger voices actually influence policy between elections?”
“South Australia leads in renewables currently, what’s one thing you believe we’re doing right, and one thing you’d wish to change?”
“For Labor: How would you respond to people who say that renewable power sources haven’t translated into lower power bills?”
“What is the Soth Australian government doing about the housing crisis?”
“What is preventing the South Australian Government from implementing a tolling system on the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) tunnel beneath South Road. Why has tolling not been considered for this new motorway?
Introducing tolls could reduce the burden the project places on taxpayers, who might never use the corridor, and enable more efficient government spending on essential services such as hospitals. Furthermore, tolling would support high-quality maintenance of the road and allow for future upgrades and expansion that may not be achievable through general taxation alone.
As tolling is a flexible funding model that could potentially be applied to other freeways and arterial roads across South Australia, I ask candidates: has your party considered this option, either for the T2D project or for major road infrastructure more broadly?”
“What are your thoughts on Australia’s compulsory voting system, and if you agree with this principle, then what do you think about the absence of this in Local Government Elections, and do you want to see any reform in this space?
Why do you think it was originally set up like this?”
“A question to Michelle Lensink, Liberal MLC: Frank Pangello criticised the public gender diversity clinic for children and young people at the women’s and children’s hospital on 7 News. As someone who (as I’ve heard from the community) is one of the most progressive voices in support of transgender rights within the SA Liberal party, what makes you think you may or may not have confidence in your party to represent transgender people well enough for us to vote for you?
And with people like Rachel Swift, Leah Blyth and Alex Antic on a federal level all of which have either spoken out against transgender people in some way or have put legislation forward in parliament (like Alex Antics and Ralph Babet’s Child Gender transition prohibition bill, 2023), what makes you extend or not extend this confidence federally?”
“What do you plan to do about better quality healthcare from bulk-billing GPs?”
“How do your housing policies deal with homeless people and people on the waitlist, as well as vacant houses in SA totalling around 23,500 people and 81,000 vacant houses?
How will you fund these housing policies, and all other policies during the campaign?”
“What do you think are the contributing factors and groups that are affecting the shortage of affordable houses in South Australia especially for young people and how will your parties address and effectively deal with these issues?”
“What is your plan for paediatric cardiac surgery in SA, and have you consulted with the congenital heart condition community in SA?”
“What are the Minister’s responsibilities when someone dies in disability care, and what are the steps when investigation is pursued?”
“How do you plan to support young people affected by sexism and gender-based violence in South Australia?”
“Do you think the AUKUS Submarine deal is a worthwhile endeavour? Could the funds be better spent? And do you think the Submarines will still be relevant to Australia’s defence strategy in 14 years when they are promised to actually hit the water?”
“Do you believe that immigration is a good thing for South Australia? Why, or why not?”
“Do you believe Australia should become a Republic like most other countries in the Commonwealth? Why, why not?”
“For Michelle Lensink: Why did the liberal party quietly abandon a 500m dollar water bill relief policy without any public announcement?
And why did it take the treasurer leaks from the shadow cabinet to get this into the media?”
“Where does your party sit on the political scale (left or right) and why is that?”
“If you had to pick one specific policy out of all the ones your party has announced for the coming election, which one is most important to you and why?
Would you say that is different to what the overall party would consider their most important?”
“What would you say is you / your party’s standpoint on the following topics:
- High school AND further education
- ASD diagnosis for young people, especially girls and late diagnosis (mid/late teens).”
Additional questions submitted at Pizza and Politics
“Is the Liberal party Brand severely damaged by being run by factional war-lords such as Alex Antic and Tony Pasin?”
“To Michelle: Why should I have confidence in voting Liberal if numerous Liberal MPs have spoken out against transgender people?”
“Are you/your party committed to ending period poverty in SA? For example, free period products in public spaces – schools, clinics, hospitals, train station, libraries, etc.”
“Why is the Liberal Party committed to repealing the Voice to Parliament and so committed to reversing a key step in Closing the Gap?”
“Is Nationalising the Whyalla Steelworks on the table to guarantee sovereign steelmaking and keeping jobs and profits in SA?”
“How does your party plan to promote environmental problem awareness?
What is your party’s plan to right climate change?”
“It was recently announced that the SA government is working with the ABC to relocate into the CBD, and the ABC is working with a local production company to revamp ‘Bananas in Pyjamas’. How will your party continue to support the work of:
1. Our national broadcaster
2. Our SA film and television industry?”
“What would you say your personal biggest priority is?
Does it stray from your party much?”
“Do you agree with the social media ban?”
“The topic of social cohesion has come up a lot recently so I’d like to ask the panel, do you think there is an issue of a lack of social cohesion in Australia?
If yes, what is the cause and what do you or your party plan to do about it?”
“How do you plan to support young people affected by sexism, misogyny and gender-based violence?”
“Where do you draw the line between restricting hate speech and not encroaching on freedom of speech and how do you plan to build this into legislation?”
“As a second year university student, me and other fellow students have been concerned with the rise of AI technology advancements.
I was wondering what your views are with the development and use of this technology and what would be your goals in parliament to ensure the benefits of the technology and minimise the complications with the technology?”
“What are you policies on housing and how will you pay for them?”
“Are you concerned about One Nation vote in SA Election and do you have any policies/marketing plans to combat their rise in popularity?”
“Opinions on lowering the voting age to 16?”
“Would you build 20,000 public homes and re-establish and revitalise the housing trust to aid the housing crisis in SA?”
“There was a reference to the “orange man” and the “red hair lady” tonight. It’s obvious to me that they drive division and hate, yet the seem to go unpunished. What measures are in place to have harmful extremist voices like this simply booted out of parliament??”
“We have seen a rise in radical “leftist” beliefs, voices and actions. Though we have also seen a rise in conservatism and a return to “traditional” roles. Such regression can be see in ideas around gender roles, abortion, LGBTQIA+ rights & healthcare & marriage, and surges in racism.
I feel this can be rooted in bigoted* religious views and the political climate in the USA.
As politics reflects the current social climate, do you think “traditional” roles will see a return in parliament?
Do you think we will see a political regression? In what ways? How will it be countered?
*bigoted being those with extremist views to the point of discrimination, not saying religion is inherently bigoted.”
“What are you going to do about raising the age of incarceration?
Why are 15-year-olds not allowed on social media but a 10 year old can be held criminally liable?”
“What are the major parties thoughts and plan of attack with banning and reducing the amount of pokies in pubs?”
“What is the recruitment approach of reducing vapes/nicotine use in teens/youth especially in schools in terms of procurement and dealing, as well as education?”
“To Nat Cook: When will we get a SHINE SA down South?”
“As a young person I believe that the upcoming generation has been getting pressured to vote the way their parents and grandparents did. Is the electoral commission going to do something about it?
Is the electoral commission going to take initiative on connecting young people?”
“What is your parties’ policy to increase Civics education?”
