UnCivil Debate Discussing what we dont want to talk about.
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Australia is facing a crisis—not just in military recruitment, but in the broader treatment of its younger generations. With talks of reintroducing conscription due to record-low enlistment in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the government seems puzzled as to why young Australians have no interest in serving. The answer is simple: Australia has failed its youth politically, economically, and socially.
A Broken Economy and a Generation Left Behind
Australia’s economy is struggling, and young people are bearing the brunt of it. Housing prices have soared to global record highs, making homeownership an impossible dream for many. Wages have stagnated, while the cost of living has skyrocketed, forcing young Australians into financial insecurity. At the same time, the Australian dollar is at an all-time low, worsening the purchasing power of everyday citizens.
Adding to this economic strain, mass immigration has overwhelmed major cities, driving up demand for housing and making it even more unaffordable. In the past decade, Australia has taken in two million immigrants, with many settling in Sydney and Melbourne, intensifying the housing crisis. While immigration is often promoted as a boost to the economy, the reality is that it has primarily benefited bankers, real estate investors, and corporate elites—not everyday Australians. Young people are competing with an influx of new arrivals for housing, jobs, and education opportunities, with little government support.
Higher Education Is Overcrowded and Unfair
For many young Australians, higher education is their pathway to a better future. However, universities, TAFEs, and vocational training programs are now overfilled with international students, many of whom lack sufficient English proficiency, slowing down classes and diminishing the quality of education for local students. While international students bring in revenue, the focus on profit has come at the expense of the learning experience for Australian youth.
Rather than prioritizing the education and career opportunities of its own citizens, Australia has turned its education system into a business model that primarily benefits institutions and landlords—not the students who are trying to build a future.
Why Should Young Australians Fight for a Country That Won’t Fight for Them?
Despite these ongoing issues the Australian government is talking about bringing back conscription due to low military recruitment. But why would young Australians be willing to fight for a country that has left them behind?
- The government has failed to make housing affordable.
- The job market is more competitive than ever, with young people struggling to find well-paying, stable employment.
- The education system is overcrowded and increasingly inaccessible for local students.
- The cost of living crisis means many young Australians can barely afford rent, food, and basic necessities.
Yet, the same government that has failed to provide for its youth now expects them to enlist and risk their lives for it? Why should young Australians feel patriotic and motivated to serve when they have been abandoned by their own leaders?
A Government Out of Touch
Instead of addressing these real concerns, politicians and corporate elites continue to push policies that benefit only a select few—property developers, major corporations, and the ultra-rich. Meanwhile, Australia’s youth are left struggling, with little to no political representation.
The government’s attempt to revive conscription is a desperate move, ignoring the root cause of the recruitment crisis: young Australians do not see a future worth fighting for.
If Australia truly wants to rebuild national pride and increase military enlistment, it must start by investing in its youth—through affordable housing, fair wages, accessible education, and economic policies that prioritize the working class, not just investors and corporations.
Until then, expecting young Australians to fight for a system that has failed them is not just unrealistic—it’s insulting.
Australian Youth Deserve Better
Australia’s youth are not unpatriotic. They are not lazy. They are simply tired of being ignored. Instead of pushing for conscription, the government should focus on fixing the very problems that have led to this recruitment crisis in the first place.
If Australia truly wants its young people to defend their country, it’s time for the country to start defending them first.
