Skip to main content

‘Let them eat cake’ - How NSW Youth fell through the cracks under Berejiklian

Youth are being sold the carrot of NSW’s strong economy, even though they fail to benefit from it. 
At yesterday’s campaign launch Berejiklian announced that NSW can ‘have it all’. Speaking to the crowd, she boasted about the lowest unemployment rates in NSW..ever. Berejiklian has pledged to spend billions on schools, hospitals and infrastructure. 
The carrot for voters? 
NSW’s strong economy. 
NSW’s strong economy is conducive the astronomical property boom that Sydney experienced. Sydney’s median house prices experienced an 86 per cent increase in the last 5 years. Stamp duty from property has contributed to the budget surplus.  That surplus has been spent on infrastructure under Berejiklian and her predecessors, including the light rail project, West Connex and the demolishing of the ANZ stadium. 
If you think that NSW will have never ending surpluses to spend in the coming years, you may be mistaken. 
 The spending spree will have to come to a halt. As there are some projected risks, including the cooling off of the property market (which we are now just starting to witness) and the rise of household debt. The property boom and favourable negative gearing may have benefited some investors and baby boomers looking at retirement.  
There are some who failed to benefit from Sydney’s property boom..
Youth.  
Sydney’s youth are trapped in rental properties and are struggling to get healthy deposits together. Even if they manage to get a healthy deposit, they are faced with the prospect of taking out loans they cannot afford.  And now, potentially loans they cannot escape, should they need to get out before house prices drop. Household debt is rising and wages are stagnant. While Berejiklian may have a sunny outlook, the fall is coming. 
The assault on NSW’s youth (and by and large other parts of Australia) still continues as ‘lock out laws’ killed off a nightlife economy. Berejiklian may brag about the strength of the economy but an entire nightlife economy has disappeared into obsolescence under her government’s watch. 
The third assault? 
Her refusal to allow pill testing. In order to appease her party, she has refused to allow pill testing at music festivals. She also implemented heavy and onerous liquor licences that music festivals will now have to abide to. 
She may have a strong conservative view on drug taking personally,  but if she valued Australian youth then it should be implemented regardless of her personal convictions. Unfortunately, youth are not valued and miss out once again. 
Berejiklian can brag about the lowest unemployment rates ever, but that would be overlooking the 10.2% of unemployed youth in NSW. Young Australians are becoming increasingly disenfranchised and ignored. They suffer from the highest rates of homelessness with 60% of homeless people being under the age of 35. 
Youth are being sold the carrot of NSW’s strong economy, even though, they fail to benefit from the strong economy. 
To engage young voters, Berejiklian will need to fix homelessness, unemployment rates and give a general regard to youth issues. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

To all the mothers, I am sorry

This year has really been a whirlwind. I welcomed my first child into the world on 20 March. To say that it's been a huge change is an understatement. But I have an apology to make. That apology is to all the mothers out there who I did not understand...at least before I had my daughter. I'm sorry that I failed to understand why you could not be on time. I used to think that it was as simple as shoving your child into the carseat and starting the ignition. I mean what is so hard about that? You just grab the kid and go right?.... I did not understand that infants need to be fed on demand. That they can have a poo explosion at any time. A crying fit for no reason. All these things can contribute to punctuality. Not to mention the sheer amount of things you need to pack for simple outings that may last an hour or two. Have I got the formula? the bibs? the bottles? the plastic bags to put dirty nappies? the spare change of clothes (or two)? the change mat? not to mention m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Private schools and the rise of inequality

With the rise of  inequality , some parents  feel pressured  to fork out $120k to keep up with ‘the Joneses’ by sending their kids to private schools. So is it worth it? As soon as a baby comes into the world new parents start thinking about their children's future.  Not what pre-school, day care or primary school they should attend but, in particular, which high school they should attend? and whether or not they should be sending their child to a private school. For a lot of parents this isn't even a question. As for those on average salaries, private schools charging up 20-30k per year is simply not an option. Even less of an option when you add more than one child to the mix.  You may be wondering why parents should worry about which high school their newborn baby should attend as it's at least 12/13 years away but alas, the race into private school has already begun. If parents want to 'keep up with the Joneses' they need to get cracking on ...
Post a Comment
Read more