What does the federal election result mean for multicultural young people?
Multicultural young people played a key role in the 2025 federal election. Millennials and Gen Z folks formed the largest voting block making up 47% of voters, and their votes were central to swings in urban seats. For example, inner city electorates such as Melbourne, Cooper and Wills, with high concentrations of young voters, became battlegrounds between Labor and the Greens.
During the election campaign, young people signalled their intention to vote according to their priorities of housing, mental health, cost of living and climate change. Despite efforts to attract voters with negative and polarising politics, voters, especially young people, appear to have rejected this in favour of a government focused on addressing their priority concerns. Now it is on the government to make sure these issues are at the forefront of a national agenda.
Here are some policies we expect to see the Labor Government deliver:
1. Education
- 500,000 free TAFE places, aiming to provide accessible vocational education.
- 20% reduction in student HECS debt, providing financial relief to graduates.
- 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard for every public school by 2034.
A key priority we heard from young people is that they want schools to be a safe and welcoming place free from racism.
We call on the government to implement all the recommendations from the National Anti-Racism Framework, including addressing systemic racism in schools. Anti-racism should be at the heart of Government action, and not just election promises.
2. Mental Health
- A total investment of $1 billion in mental health services to expand free mental health services, including upgrading walk-in mental health centres
- An additional $46 million over 4 years to continue digital mental health programs, ensuring accessible programs for young people.
- $500 million is intended for 20 youth specialist centres, and another $200 million to expand or start 58 Headspace centers.
A key priority we heard from young people, like Adriel, is that they want culturally responsive care, and services that are accessible to them.
We call on government to prioritise early intervention and prevention mental health services focusing on culturally competent and youth focused strategies. We equally urge investment in co-designed approaches with multicultural young people and recruiting bicultural/multicultural roles in the mental health sector.
3. Housing and cost of living
- The government plans to construct 100,000 homes for first home buyers with a $10 billion investment.
Cost of living was a key issue for young people this election, and they want to see more decisive, immediate action that helps their day-to-day lives, such as affordable groceries.
We also know how impassioned young people are about homelessness. With 15-17 year olds facing the highest rate of homelessness in Australia, there is a critical need to expand supported housing programs for young people experiencing homelessness.
We call for the government to invest in social and affordable housing to address the critical shortage affecting multicultural young people, and to fund youth-specific housing models that integrate tailored services and supports.
Thank you to all of the young people from our networks who shared their thoughts with us and advocated for the issues important to them in the lead up to the election.