Moving out “practically impossible”: Four young North Shore men on what’s shaping their voting choices

The North Shore Lorikeet recently canvassed four young men who live locally and asked about the factors shaping their thinking ahead of the election.

In conversations with the young men in their early 20s - Will, Jake, Bryson and Jamie - a nuanced set of political leanings emerged.

Despite living in traditionally Liberal-voting electorates, three expressed a leaning towards Labor or Greens, citing cost of living, climate change, and authenticity in leadership as key motivators. One is a Coalition supporter for principle rather than policy - for what he sees as their stance for supporting self-determination and their vision for the future.

The youth vote (both Gen Z and, yes, some Millennials) will be incredibly important in the election. The section of the population these two generations now represent makes up a significant portion of voters and is no longer made up of “just kids”. In fact, it is the largest voting bloc in the country.

Polling from earlier this year claimed Gen Z men in Australia were mirroring those in America and moving to the right, while recent analysis from political strategist and pollster Kos Samaras said the average Gen Z voter is “active, aware and angry”, with the election sure to be won by the party that best addresses their concerns.

And so, with all that in mind, how are Gen Z men on the North Shore thinking about their vote?

🧠 A generation thinking for themselves

Will, 21, a software engineering student from Lane Cove, is candid about his journey from a Liberal-leaning household to supporting Labor.

“My parents were big Malcolm Turnbull fans,” he says, “but after high school I did a bit more thinking for myself.” His thinking led him to realise his parents preferred the Coalition because they’re financially stable homeowners, and to doubt whether that position is best for the nation.

Will plans to vote for Jerome Laxale, the Labor MP for Bennelong, even though he finds the MP's personality somewhat grating. “He doesn’t feel very authentic… but I like what Labor’s doing, and he’s representing that.”

Jake, 23, a graduate lawyer living in the Warringah electorate suburb of Mosman, hasn’t finalised his decision but is leaning towards Labor or independent Zali Steggall. For Jake, lifestyle and economic policy go hand-in-hand.

“I’ve noticed what the Minns government has done in terms of easing licensing laws and nightlife restrictions. That’s important to me,” he says. He also places value on healthcare access, adding, “I put off going to the doctor because of how expensive it is.”

Bryson, 24, a fourth-year law and economics student living with his family in Lavender Bay, will be supporting the Coalition at the Warringah ballot box on Saturday.

“What people get wrong with politics is letting individual policies sway their vote, whereas I think that in order to have a country that has a vision for the future we have to look at what the parties stand for,” he said.

What does he see the Coalition as standing for? He finds that their core values of supporting self determination, hard work, and personal responsibility “more conducive to aspiration”.

“I think the Labor Party is sort of the political wing of the trade union movement and it’s not really representative of a young professional like me. The Greens… I think their policies would reduce the wealth of individuals. The ‘Teals’ have an incapability of achieving anything in parliament.”

Jamie, 24, a student and soccer coach from Gladesville, plans to vote Labor and cites a strong influence from his mother, a former council worker who knew Laxale personally.

“She only has good things to say about Jerome,” Jamie says. But his support for Labor runs deeper: “I think I resonate a lot more with their policies and how they treat others.”

“I guess that my ideal Prime Minister is just: seems like a good bloke, or good woman.”

🗣️ Housing, climate, and healthcare

The housing crisis loomed large in the conversations. All four young men still live at home - a reality that reflects broader economic trends among the younger generations.

Bryson was optimistic about the Liberal Party’s policy of allowing access to his superannuation fund to purchase a home. “If I didn’t have that, I would have no way of affording a home.”

Will bluntly described moving out as “practically impossible,” while Jake admitted he’s hesitant to start looking for a place to live due to “pretty cooked” rental prices.

This housing crunch ties into broader cost-of-living concerns. While tax cuts were on their radar, they didn’t find them personally impactful. Will noted, “A couple hundred bucks a year doesn’t make much of a difference. I feel like if we want to actually make tax changes, we should be emphasising stopping tax avoidance.”

For Bryson, he started paying attention to politics when he started being taxed – his HECS debt is on his mind.

“Experiencing the pressures of cost of living and a poorly managed economy has pushed me toward an alternative to the Labor government.”

“Taking bulk billing back to where it was three years ago” also appeals to Bryson. “I think generally the government shouldn’t fund much – but I think it’s really important to ensure that people have access to mental health support.”

Environmental issues were also a priority.

Jamie articulated a generational divide: “The negative effects of climate change won’t impact the boomer generation as much. But it will really affect us.” Will, drawing on his engineering background, argued that solar energy makes far more sense for Australia than nuclear, calling out the logistical challenges of the latter.

🔵 Wrestling with the Liberal party

Across three of the four interviews, there was notable disillusionment with the Liberal Party and its leadership. Will was dismissive of Bennelong’s Liberal candidate, Scott Yung, saying that “he hasn’t done himself any favours”, and Jamie criticised what he saw as unrealistic campaign promises from Liberal candidates.

“Liberal is a lot more for the upper echelon wealthy kind, benefiting them by giving out tax breaks which obviously helps their business. But Labor is a lot more for the middle man, and the majority of the population is the middleman.”

Bryson “swung around” the political spectrum when he was younger and though he is now a firm supporter of the Liberal Party, he does have some notes.

“I don’t think there’s a single big reform at this election. We still have major issues with our taxation system. There’s a lack of intergenerational wealth and equity, GST is probably too low, income tax is too high. I think that while I’m voting for the Coalition I’d also like our parties to be more inventive with their policy.”

He thinks Warringah’s Liberal candidate, Jaimee Rogers, is a “very strong, committed and professionally successful woman.”

“I want my local member to be a good advocate on all the issues of national importance in Canberra, and Jaimee has much more of a strong idea of what she’s like to do with the nation.”

➡️ A shift in Sydney’s north?

The North Shore has long been a stronghold for the Liberals, but conversations like these suggest the terrain is mixed.

Will, Jake and Jamie’s progressive leanings go against the grain of media portrayals and news items of a "disaffected male" drift to the right - and Bryson, engaged and impassioned - doesn’t exactly fit this either.

In Australia, however, while some Gen Z men are indeed drawn to contrarian online voices or “anti-woke” sentiments, those interviewed here buck that narrative with their considered approaches to voting on Saturday.

Thumbnail images: Katelyn Perry (right), Evan Wise (left)