Prime Minister for a Day by Benedict (Year 12)

Recent global uncertainty, coupled with the pervasive influence of social media, has made the question "Who am I going to vote for?" increasingly difficult to answer. For many, decisions seem driven more by personality than policy, and by rhetoric rather than substance. Younger voters in particular may be swayed by the opinions of their parents or peers, without fully reflecting on what they themselves truly think and believe.

Young Australians would greatly benefit from a structured framework to help them develop their own values and belief systems, enabling them to choose a political party or candidate that aligns with those principles. Introducing a new subject in Year 11 and/or 12 could serve this purpose.

The course could examine the political spectrum, exploring political ideologies such as authoritarianism vs. libertarianism and conservatism vs. progressivism. It would also delve into different economic systems, with a focus on the contrast between free-market and planned economies. At its core, the course would foster discussions on the role of government in shaping both society and the economy, using real-world events and case studies to facilitate impartial exploration of these concepts.

While topics like these are briefly touched upon in subjects such as Economics, Legal Studies, Commerce and Modern History, they are often addressed in a relatively superficial manner. A dedicated course should be made available that thoroughly examines ideologies and systems across the political and economic spectrum. This course could be offered as an extension or enrichment unit, available to all students or specifically to those already studying 2 units of nominated subjects.

Houston, we have a problem. Productivity. Largely driven by technological advancements, productivity has always increased over time and is the reason why living standards have steadily improved across generations. However, in recent years, Australia’s productivity growth has stagnated and even declined. This should be a cause for concern for everyone.

Productivity can be addressed in three ways. First, reforms are needed to our taxation system. Currently, too much of the tax burden falls on salary and wage earners. It is illogical that income from realised capital gains is taxed more favourably than income from labour. Why should someone who works 40 hours a week for five years to earn $500,000 pay more tax than someone who makes the same amount passively from rising asset values? If concessions are to be made, they should reward personal effort and the sacrifice of time.

Second, Australians should be incentivised to invest their superannuation funds in local businesses and development. Currently, half of the $4.2 trillion held within Australian funds is invested overseas. In fact, Australians now hold more equity in overseas companies than foreigners do in Australian ones.

Maintaining international investment options is important for risk management and growth. But we should also prioritise local investment to stimulate innovation and job creation. One policy option would be to discount or eliminate the 15% tax on superannuation investment earnings if the relevant assets are held in Australia. This could apply to any investment option provided by the superannuation funds that has a minimum 80% allocation to Australia.

If this had been policy since 2000, Australian superannuation funds might have invested more in the mining industry. Instead, this sector relied on foreign capital, and the large dividend payouts in recent years have mostly benefited overseas shareholders rather than everyday Australians.

Finally, Australia needs a bold, nation-building project to inspire the public and drive long-term productivity and growth. One such project is the creation of a new city, designed to house at least four million people within 50 years. A location like Port Stephens, with its natural harbour and strategic advantages, could be ideal.

Building from a relatively greenfield site offers rare chance to build a truly modern, liveable, and efficient city that is developed in stages with integrated planning. The city would be a highly appealing option for newly arrived Australians and put a halt to the continuous sprawl in Sydney and Melbourne.

Key infrastructure would include an underground metro network, high-speed rail connections, an international airport and underground ring roads. Parklands would form green corridors linking suburbs with wide cycleways and pedestrian paths. Suburbs would be designed around metro hubs combining shops, entertainment, services and high-density housing. Dedicated metro stops would serve the airport, industrial zones, a world-class university and a major stadium.

At the city’s heart, wide boulevards would host cultural venues, theatres and arenas – creating a vibrant, walkable centre for civic life.

Young Australians deserve a government that encourages productivity by rewarding personal effort, incentivises investment in the nation and provides a bold vision to channel that investment.