The Inside Word

The young and the restless

Growing up, my grandmother made me watch a show called The Young and the Restless. Now, Gen Z has taken that title to Canberra.

As a member of Gen Z at the SAS Group, I find myself teaching colleagues new slang, memes, and TikTok life hacks. While my colleagues bring decades of political experience, I bring what has recently proven in Canberra to be the most sought-after commodity: youth.

As a young professional, I am often reminded of my age. But with that comes a sense of duty to interpret politics through the complex lens of a Gen Z voter. This isn’t about the rise of the Gen Z vote; it’s about how politics itself is being reshaped by a new kind of voter.

Not long ago, we were told to skip the avocado toast and daily coffee if we ever wanted a shot at home ownership. Now, we’ve become the very policy target group federal politicians need to win elections. The question is no longer whether a policy “passes the pub test”; it’s whether it can pass the TikTok algorithm.

I am not writing to revel in our newfound importance. It’s about recognising the nature of modern politics: a system that adapts to the loudest, most connected voices. And we are nothing if not connected.

From housing rebates to cuts to HECS, the last federal election demonstrated the importance of the youth vote at the ballot box. Gen Z voters, alongside our Millennial seniors, outnumbered Baby Boomers at the voting booth. This demographic shift is seismic.

I must heed a warning, though: speaking for my generation, we can muster attention quickly in the technology era, but we also have a short attention span. History tells us appeasement is a dangerous game.

Gone are the days when your parents’ party automatically defined your own. For the generation of Tinder, Uber Eats, and TikTok, politics isn’t about left or right, blue or red; it’s about instant gratification. One swipe, and we have a whole new meal, partner, or political view.

Gen Z doesn’t fit neatly into one colour on the political spectrum. We are outspoken, globalised, digital, and impatient for change. We debate online, mobilise movements, and carry our fickle politics everywhere—in our pockets, our feeds, and our votes.

We are a hungry generation that’s truly never full. This may be a symptom of the world that was built for us.

So, what does that mean for you?

The takeaway for industry is clear: don’t underestimate Generation Z.

Canberra understands the power of the Gen Z wave and knows you can either ride it or be crushed by it. We are not just the future of politics; we are already reshaping it.

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