Brisbane university student Lauren Bartholomew feels like her "future's been taken away" as she dips into her savings for day-to-day expenses.
Easing the cost of living and making it more attainable for young people to buy a house will be the deciding factors when she votes for the first time in the Queensland election on October 26.
"Most weeks I can't afford groceries without dipping into savings and I feel like my future's been taken away from me because I've always wanted to own a house with a little garden," Miss Bartholomew said.
She is among the more than 430,000 people aged 18 to 25 years old registered to cast their ballot in the state election, which is almost 4 per cent more than in 2020.
Miss Bartholomew and her partner live in a share house in Brisbane with six housemates paying up to $440 a week to cover rent and bills.
"Considering the Labor party hasn't delivered on many of the housing policies that they put forward last election, I'm not hopeful I'll ever own a home," she said.
Both Labor and the LNP have promised to build one million new homes, and each party has made several promises aimed at first-home buyers.
The LNP has promised a shared-equity scheme for aspiring home owners who have at least 2 per cent of a home deposit in savings, which would allow them to access assistance from the government to close the deposit gap, while Labor doubled the first home owners grant from $15,000 to $30,000 last year.
In June, Labor increased the first home concession threshold on stamp duty to $700,000, while the LNP has promised to scrap stamp duty for first home owners who buy or build a new home.
Abortion policy has become a surprise topic ahead of the state election, with concerns a minor conservative party could push for reform.
Miss Bartholomew said a party's stance on policies impacting women could sway the way she votes.
"It terrifies me as a young woman that in the 21st century this is still up for debate and we’re transgressing."
Vision for future over 'cash splashes'
For Carlos Atme, owning a small business and studying full-time is always front and centre when it comes to deciding who to vote for.
"I'd like to see a leader that presents strong, viable solutions for businesses to operate and to prevent big companies from creating a monopoly of industries," he said.
The 22-year-old from the Bancroft electorate in the Moreton Bay region says with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games coming up, business owners are looking to the state government for development.
"As a young entrepreneur invested in this city, we don’t want to see Brisbane endure the same growing pains Melbourne and Sydney had where they basically grew overnight," Mr Atme said.
"We'd like to see the infrastructure needed to be built take precedent and not in 10 years time. This next four year term will be important to see how these issues are addressed.
"I don't want to just see cash splashes."
Regional matters do matter
For Christian Lane-Krebs, who lives in the Central Queensland electorate of Burnett, he wants to see policies that help "keep rural and regional Australians in rural and regional Australia".
"Too many of my friends and family have had to move away for equal opportunities," the 19-year-old said.
"I'd like to see politicians make sure that for me, as a regional young Australian, that I am not disadvantaged just because of where I live."
Politicians need to 'follow through' with action
Haeden Tuhoro grew up in foster care in Cairns and was raised by a Torres Strait Islander family.
Ms Tuhoro, who works in aged care and Indigenous youth centres, is open minded about who to vote for in this upcoming election.
"I'd like to see issues that impact older generations to be addressed, as well as inclusivity," said Miss Tuhoro.
She said integrity and real action would sway her vote.
"If politicians are going to promise to support grassroot organisations or reduce crime rates, they need to actually follow through with action," she said.
"Anyone can make a promise, but it takes guts and money to actually make real change."
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