Musicians on the General Election: Hannah Kathleen – "The conversation around politics should actively include young people"

It’s super important for young people to recognise that we have the opportunity to vote, and to give our opinion on the direction that the country is going in.

For me, there are three primary issues: housing, homelessness and health. We need to work more as a team to focus on ways in which we can improve the situation in all areas – particularly in areas where people’s lives are at risk. It’s so important that these issues don’t become over-politicised, or used by any one party to point score over another one, because these are areas that impact people’s lives. Each of these areas could verge on a state of emergency if the plan to improve the problem has to start over and over again each time there’s a new election.

It’s important that we’re creating something that’s sustainable, no matter who’s in office. As the years go by, and the people in office change, I hope we can unite as a nation and realise that it’s so much more than just a political situation – it’s about the lives of people.

The youth vote isn’t being engaged enough. Young people need to be encouraged more, and the conversation around politics should actively include young people. It’s our future that we’re voting for, but often the voices of 18 and 19 year olds are forgotten.

Encouraging a conversation is the best way to get young people to go out and vote. They need to be told, ‘You can vote – and this is how you go about doing it’. The only information I’ve seen about voting and getting on the register is from other young people, sharing it on Instagram. We need to be hearing about it more frequently, in sources that will really reach young people.

Hannah Kathleen is a singer-songwriter, entrepreneur and award-winning blogger. Her debut single arrives later this year.

Photo: Edward Park Photography