Advocating for Change: Intergenerational Fairness - Nov 2022
As a new Independent Member of Parliament, some have said ‘what can you actually do?’. I want to let you know how I’m using the tools that I have as a Parliamentarian, guided by the issues my community cares about. Each month, I will let you know about a parliamentary tool I’m using and how it is nudging change.
Intergenerational Fairness – Grievance Debates and why I’m challenging the Government to kick off a full and frank inquiry into intergenerational inequality.
Have you had the avo toast versus free uni debate? Whether Boomers, Gen Y or Millennials had it tougher?
Living standards in Australia are going backwards. Millennials are widely forecast to be the first generation since Federation that has worse economic outcomes than the generation before.
And there are fewer working age Australians to support our elders. When my husband and I bought our first house, in the 90s, the median house price was about 4.2 times the median annual income. It’s now double that at 8.5 times.
I recently met with Sonia Arakkal, a constituent, who started ‘Think Forward’, a group for young Australians who want politicians to prioritise issues of intergenerational fairness.
I had a great conversation with Sonia about the assumptions built into our tax system. There has been little significant economic reform in the past decade, and I am hopeful that we can bring long term thinking back to politics.
So I raised the issue during the last sitting of Parliament when I delivered a ‘grievance debate’, which is an opportunity for MPs to raise an issue in Parliament that deserves national attention.
I believe young people want to be able to aspire to the same milestones of financial security as previous generations.
I know older people want to live with dignity and I’m sure you’ll agree they also want to leave a legacy of a fair, functioning society to their children and grandchildren.
I call on the Government to begin an inquiry into intergenerational fairness, as part of this national conversation.
