We Australians like to distance ourselves from the chaos of American politics. But when I— a woman of colour who identifies as queer and disabled—wakes up to headlines like:
“Trump makes ‘two sexes’ official and scraps DEI policies”, “Trump to sign order terminating federal benefits for migrants”, “US confirms end to funding for UN Palestinian refugees”…
…it’s hard not to feel the ripples from across the Pacific. These executive orders might be taking place thousands of kilometres away, but the sense of security I feel as an Australian citizen takes a hit each time.
It’s not just emotional—it’s political. Australian politics doesn’t exist in a vacuum. In fact, our Parliament has often been described as a ‘Wash-minster’ system, borrowing heavily from both the British Westminster and American Washington models. The Parliamentary Education Office explains more here
Take Roe v. Wade’s overturning, for example. Ava Kalinauskas, research associate at the United States Studies Centre, told Vogue Australia in November 2024:
“I would be surprised if Australian politicians aren’t seeing what’s happening in the US and weighing up the impacts of introducing the issue of abortion into our political landscape. Watching Trump and the Republicans navigate abortion as a political issue is definitely something that Australian politicians would be doing.”
So, as we head toward the Australian federal election on May 3, I’m asking: what’s at the forefront of other women voters’ minds?
Because with every new policy shift, every budget announcement, and every backroom deal made in Parliament, another question is added to the weight we carry:
“Will I still have the rights I do today?”
“Will it become harder for me to live, work, or move through the world?”
“How will this affect my everyday life?”
As the campaign trail heats up, what do Australian women want from their leaders? What issues do they want solved? And more importantly—who’s listening?
I interviewed four Australian women on what’s at the forefront of their decisions this election period:
The Issues Influencing Female Voters
“The top three issues that will shape my vote are the cost of living, climate change, and human rights,” says Pooja*, 23.
Others echoed similar concerns. Zoe, 23, explains:
“Climate change plays a big part in who I vote for. Cost of living pressures are another big issue, especially as a young woman living out of home on a single income. Student debt creates barriers and contributes to anxiety—especially around home ownership.”
For Chan*, 24, immigration is at the centre of her political decision-making:
“The Betoota Advocate calls Peter Dutton ‘Temu Trump’ and I don’t think they are that far off. I can easily see Dutton attempting to follow in Trump’s footsteps. Australia’s immigration policies are already not great, and I think Dutton would make it worse.”
Are Politicians Truly Listening to Young Women?
When asked whether politicians are genuinely addressing the concerns of young women, the answers were mixed—but many leaned toward cynicism.
Laura, 25, says:
“I think most politicians are performative. They engage on a surface level to get votes. But the fact that women are still being murdered regularly and no one is addressing misogyny directly shows a lack of deeper concern.”
Pooja offers a more measured take:
“I think some politicians genuinely address the concerns of young women—there have been many improvements made to give women equal access to working opportunities and equal pay across fields. But some are clearly performative. The Liberal Party promoting women as candidates is rubbish—the party holds no basic respect for women. It’s not clear where Labor stands. I can’t tell if their words mean action—I like to think their policies lean that way.”
Hope—or Disillusionment?
Are young women feeling hopeful or disillusioned about the future of Australian politics—especially when it comes to gender equity and representation?
Pooja says she feels a bit of both:
“I want to be hopeful, especially seeing Labor, the Greens, and independents’ platforms—but it’s easy to feel disillusioned. By events overseas, by decreasing social cohesion here, and by anything Peter Dutton says. Labor increased the percentage of women running for seats to 55%, up from 44% at the last election. The Liberals are still at 32%, unchanged since 2022. Yet, people keep voting for them…
Zoe believes change is coming—but slowly:
“I try to remain hopeful, but that hope is 10+ years away. We have bright, progressive young leaders emerging. But global politics, like Trump removing rights, makes me worry those policies will influence us.”
Laura is more pessimistic:
“I’m incredibly disillusioned—especially with the possibility of Peter Dutton as PM. I fear we’ll follow the US—targeting minorities, fuelling racism, misogyny, transphobia. Queensland’s halt on gender-affirming care aligns with this. When anyone outside the ‘CIS white male’ flourishes, it threatens patriarchy and capitalism. Politics pushes back. I don’t feel confident we’re moving toward gender equity or representation.”
What Would You Say to Political Leaders?
If they had the chance to speak directly to political leaders, what would young women want them to hear?
Chan doesn’t mince words:
“Mostly I’d just tell Albo to tax the hell out of Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer. That would solve a few issues. Gina would have found a cure for endometriosis if she wanted to… alas.”
Pooja calls for substance over spin:
“They need to listen—really listen—to young women. And not just lump us together. The pressures on us vary based on race, class, religion, sexuality, education, marital status… the list goes on. Politicians tend to simplify or stereotype young people, and they’re wrong. I don’t need meme political ads to vote for you. I need real change in my standard of living.”
*Note: Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of interviewees.
Top photo source: AAP Images
Disclaimer: As we near the 2025 Australian Federal Election, Missing Perspectives will be platforming various voices and perspectives about Australian politics and the election. The opinions and/or views expressed by individual contributors and interviewees represent the opinions of those people, and not necessarily those of Missing Perspectives.
