1.    When and why did you decide to become a politician?
I like to think of myself as an activist rather than a politician – it’s such a loaded term. I first became really politically aware (and outraged) when I was about 15, when the republic referendum was taking place. I was barracking for the republic option, of course.

2.    What do you think are the issues that matter to young people?
Different people care about different things, but I think the main issues for young people at the moment are:
-    Climate Change – we need real solutions. It’s our future these pollies are talking about after all.
-    The War in Iraq – what on earth are we doing there?
-    Unfair Workplace Laws – when we go get casual jobs in retail, bars, and call centres, we are most at risk of being screwed over. I personally, and a few of my friends, was forced to sign an AWA that cut away all of my penalty rates.
-    Higher Education – Last time I checked $6 billion had been ripped out of higher education since the Libs started in 1996. This is not cool. Let’s not forget that many students no longer have student organisations thanks to Brendan Nelson’s VSU [Voluntary Student Unionism].

3.    How do you plan to address these issues?
I plan to engage with young people in my electorate on these issues every time I can. Most of us know these things have happened and do not approve, but we need to become vocal in our opposition and stand together. I want to empower the young people in my electorate to make their voices heard.

4.    How do you engage with young people to find out what issues matter to them?
Being 22 years old, I am in the lucky position to be associating with young people all the time. Last year I was the Communications Officer of the Sydney University’s SRC [Student Representative Council], so I spoke to a lot of uni students who were concerned about these issues.

5.    What did you care about when you were a young voter?
I still am. Broadly, I care about making the world a better place. I want an Australia that is based on fairness, and I think that everyone in my electorate agrees with me.

6.    What is your opinion of young people in Australia?
We’re hip and happening. People say we’re apathetic, but deep down we care. We’re crying out for the pollies to really talk to us. We’re not little kids anymore and we want to cast our vote responsibly. We just need to be informed and we don’t like the political rhetoric that the pollies keep spitting out.

7.    How do you think our political system can better engage with younger voters?
They can start by not destroying our student organisations so that our voices can be heard. I think that the voting age should be lowered to 16. I think that young people would start to seek answers from pollies a bit earlier and more passionately if this were the case. I really don’t have a brilliant answer to this question, but it’s something I want to find out.

8.    What are the key long-term challenges facing Australia?
Climate change, national security (stemming from our invading other countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and now potentially Iran), work choices, and the skills crisis, to name a few.

9.    If you could change one thing about Australia what would it be?
Changing the Government is a good starting point.

10.    Describe a time when your political opinion was challenged or changed.
All the time at Uni, it’s a great place to develop your politics as there are so many different viewpoints in student activism, even just in the progressive side of things.

11.    What’s your favourite thing about your electorate?
I love the people. Some think that people from the [Sydney’s] North Side are snobs, but we’re really all quite polite, accepting and open-minded peeps.