First published in The Age on March 1, 1973
Their first – bill for votes at 18
CANBERRA – The Federal Government yesterday introduced a bill to allow 18-year-olds to vote in Federal elections. It was the first substantive bill brought before Parliament by the Labor Government.
Students enrol to vote at a table set up in the Union building at Monash University after the voting age was lowered to 18.Credit:The Age Archives
The Minister for Services and Property (Mr Daly) said introduction of the bill was “an historic occasion – an occasion too long delayed.”
He said it would extend the franchise to about 700,000 young men and women, and would also allow them to stand as parliamentary candidates.
“This bill symbolises the commitment of the Labor Government to the youth of this country — to a new Australia of equal political, social and economic opportunity for all,” he said.
Mr Daly said there was a worldwide trend towards lowering the age of majority.
It was regrettable that the previous Government had deprived young Australians of this right, he said.
Mr Daly said the bill was one of the most far-reaching reforms in the Australian political community for generations.
Annette Finkel, 19, fills in the enrolment form, aided by Mark Plummer, one of five students who staffed the table set up in the Union building.Credit:The Age Archives
The bill was passed through the first reading stage and debate on the second reading was adjourned.
A bill to authorise social service increases ranging from $1.50 to $14 a week was also introduced yesterday.
The Minister for Social Security (Mr Hayden) said the bill would provide a common benefit rate for all pensions and for unemployment and sickness benefits of $21.50 a week standard rate and $37.50 a week married rate.
He said the measures would cost $126 million in a full year and $66.2 million this financial year.
The pension increases would be made retrospective to the first pay day for each category of pension occurring after the Government’s election on December 2.
The department is expected to begin paying out the pensions at the higher rate from March 22 in the case of age and invalid pensions and from March 27 in the case of widows’ pensions.
The increased unemployment and sickness benefits would operate from the benefit week ending on the date the bill received royal assent.
The bill was passed through the first reading stage and debate on the second reading was adjourned.
A bill increasing the rates of repatriation pensions was introduced to Parliament yesterday. The bill increases the special rate war pension paid to totally permanently incapacitated ex-servicemen by $3.10 a week to $5.10 a week. This brings the pension up to the rate of the Commonwealth minimum wage.
The Minister for Defence (Mr. Barnard) said the total cost of all the repatriation increases would be $15.93 million in a full year. He said they would cost $8.5 million in the 1972-73 financial year.
A similar bill granting increases in merchant seamen’s war pensions and allowance was also introduced. These pensions are payable to seamen who served in the merchant navy during the last war.
Debate on both bills was adjourned.
First published in The Age on March 21, 1973
Voting age is lowered
About 750,000 young people aged 18 to 21 became eligible to enrol as voters in Federal elections today.
Enrolment is compulsory for all 18 to 21-year-olds who are Australian citizens or British subjects.
Eighteen-year-olds can now also stand as candidates in Federal elections.
The Federal Government has arranged with the Victorian and New South Wales Governments for legislation for the 18-year-old vote in State elections to also come into effect today.
South Australia and Western Australia already have legislation enabling 18-year-olds to vote at State elections.
Federal enrolment forms may be obtained from any post office or electoral office. Completed forms should be returned to the electoral registrar for the district in which the person lives.
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