Since those involved in the West Tamar Council’s Youth Advisory Committee are not old enough to vote themselves, they are asking those who can to exercise their vote. 

Committee member Ann-Lea Wykes believes younger people should get a say because the choices the elected members make affect their future. 

“It’s part of being a democracy. Local elections aren’t compulsory, but if you vote it’s your chance to have your say,” she said. 

“Sixteen to 18-year-olds should have the chance to vote because we live here too, we know what’s going on.” 

Young people don’t return their votes, because they don’t know what a council does, member Brae Chaplin said. 

“They don’t have a say in the council so why should they care. But, maybe if they had more of an option to vote they might have more of an interest,” he said. 

Bianca Antoniazzi said having local government was important because it just focuses on one area making it more personal to those in the region. 

“To make a change in federal or state government that’s really broad, but local government just zones into one area, so they’re more trying to fix the problems they can see,” she said. 

“If you were to approach a councillor and say ‘this is an issue in my street, can you help me fix it’ they would. If you did that with state or federal government it’s not as important to them. They don’t have time for us unless it’s a big issue.”

In responding to comments from one northern candidate saying young people don’t get involved in local government because they don’t have the attention spans to vote or understand what a council does, the committee were defensive. 

“He is basically saying that our generation don’t care, when really the people sitting in this room right now do,” Angelique Marshall said. 

“Yes, we’re young, but we all have a point of view and want to be able to put it across and have a choice in our future.” 

Votes for the local government election must be returned to your local council office before 10am on October 30 to be counted.