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The Australia Institute’s Coal Mine Tracker says the federal government has approved 10 new coal mines since it was elected in May 2022 and there are another 22 proposals for new or expanded coal mines awaiting approval.
Young voices louder this election
Alexa Stuart (arm raised) was hauled out after heckling Anthony Albanese over poor youth mental health as a result of climate change. Source: Supplied
While climate change has long been a major issue for young people, Mission Australia’s youth survey, , found that young people’s main concern had shifted from climate change to cost-of-living.
One-in-five Australians have a year-long mental disorder, with anxiety being the most common, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023) with young people, particularly young females, experiencing higher rates.
Labor’s commitment includes $225 million toward 21 new Mental Health Centres and upgrades toward 10 centres across the country, many in regional centres, as well as the $500 million for Youth Specialist Care Centres, $200 million to expand Headspace services and $90 million to train 1,200 new mental health professionals.
A shaky future
Professor Patrick McGorry, a youth mental health psychiatrist, said in the same press conference today that “megatrends”, like climate change, the housing crisis and student debt are all drivers for poor mental health and “pessimism” among young people.

The incident occured during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s $1billion announcement toward mental health services. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
“Young people are the miners’ canaries of society. They’re showing up with the symptoms of a society that is heading in the wrong direction,” McGorry said.
“So we need to identify what those problems are, and then turn the direction around to make it a healthier, stronger, cohesive society.”
How the major parties plan to tackle climate change
If elected, the Greens will ban fossil fuels, including all new coal and gas projects, will ban logging in native forests, and will aim to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 or earlier — with a plan for all electricity to be sourced from renewables.
“I feel so angry and upset.”