Tom Elliott clashes with academic over latest bid to lower voting age

Tom Elliott says he doesn’t see the “pressing need” for Australia to lower the voting age to 16.

It’s claimed teenagers are highly engaged with climate change, gendered violence, education debt and racial justice and should be able to vote at elections.

“The bottom line is we have picked an age, 18, let’s just leave it,” the 3AW Drive host said.

Press PLAY below to hear his response

But Professor Judith Bessant from RMIT said there were a “good number of arguments” to lower the age.

“It will make our society more democratic,” she said.

She said Tom Elliott’s view on young people was “somewhat inappropriate” and there was no good reason for them not to vote.

Press PLAY below to hear the debate that followed