Australian Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John has been awarded One Young World’s Politician of the Year. Senator Steele-John was the only Australian shortlisted for the award.

Jordon was nominated for the award, for crowdsourcing his first speech to the Australian Senate and the active approach he has taken to include people who are often shut out of Parliament, young people and disabled people, in the parliamentary process.

Monday, 25th June 2018

Australian Greens Youth spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said today he was looking forward to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters scrutinising his bill to lower the voting age to 16, saying it was an historic opportunity for this important democratic reform to pass with bipartisan support.

Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Lowering Voting Age and Improving Democratic Participation) Bill 2018

JSJ – Second Reading Speech

For far too long, politics has failed to properly represent young people or the issues they care about.

There are many within this place, and beyond, who think young people don’t care about our world or haven’t earned the right to participate in our society, from a perceived lack of life experience or maturity.

Thursday, 21st June 2018

Australian Greens Youth spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has delivered his second reading speech on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Lower the Voting Age and Improve Democratic Participation) Bill 2018.

Senator Steele-John's speech will kick off debate on the issue of whether 16 and 17 year olds have a right to vote for the first time in Australian history.

Wednesday, 16 May 2018

Australian Greens Youth Affairs spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has pointed to the results of a Deloitte survey released today, which show young people’s faith in politics is at an all-time-low, as evidence we must lower the voting age to 16 in Australia.

“Politics doesn't hear young people, and doesn't value young people, because the old parties don't have to rely on them as a constituency, and therefore don't care about their issues or their future. It is absolutely shameful," Senator Steele-John said.

Monday, 30 April 2018

Australian Greens Youth spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has slammed Bill Shorten and the Labor party for failing to respond to calls to lower the voting age to 16 in Australia and for failing to acknowledge young people are not being heard in our democracy.

Senator Steele-John said today this was yet another classic example of the political establishment ignoring the voice of young people when they are asking to be heard, and was exactly the problem with our political system today.