THE economy, asylum seekers, tax reform, climate change and education dominate the concerns of our newest and youngest voters.

While much of the focus in this election campaign has centred around business, high-income earners, superannuants and families the North Shore Times sat down with four students from schools across the north shore to take the pulse of our youngest voters.

There was disappointment among our panel of students that both major parties and their leaders were unable to lay out a framework for a prosperous future.

St Ignatius’ College Riverview, student Jack Hartland, 18, who lives in the electorate of North Sydney said he felt there was a lot of uncertainty around the economic future.

“There is a lot of uncertainty for young people and what it (the country) will look like in the future and what we will be doing in the future,” Jack said.

“We need a leader with vision to solve that. But I do not feel like they (politicians) are talking to me when they are talking about those issues.”

media_camera St Ignatius’ College Riverview student Jack Hartland, 18, will be casting his vote in the electorate of North Sydney for the first time. Picture: Daniel Aarons.

Robert Clarke, 18, from Knox Grammar, who lives in the electorate of Bradfield, echoed some of Jack’s thoughts but said it was only logical the politicians focused on the greatest number of voters.

“I mean in the end the adults are the majority of the people who vote so I have no problem with politicians directing their resources to the voting public that way,” Robert said.

“If there is a party though that is going to be looking after the youth it is the Liberal Party. They are the only ones that are proposing ... fiscal responsibility.

“For me the absolute main (priority) is tax reform, I think that we have left it too long in this country without having proper reform.”

The other major issues occupying our panel’s minds included the lack of action on climate change, refugees and education.

Alina Alikhan, 18, from Pymble Ladies’ College said it was “disheartening” to see a lack of action on climate change.

“We only have one Earth and the judgments that humankind has made and what it has done to the earth is insane,” Alina said.

St Ives High School’s Elijah Delnido, 18, described the treatment of refugees as “inhumane”.

“I would like to see the intake increased but most of all I want people to be treated humanely,” Elijah said.

media_camera Tax reform, climate change and asylum seekers are a few of the top issues for St Ives HS student Elijah Delnido, Robert Clarke from Knox Grammar and Alina Alikhan from Pymble Ladies College. Picture: Virginia Young.

“The way we are treating people now is causing suicides. We are such a big country and have so much space to use.”

Elijah also thought education cuts had gone too far.

“I go to a public school and we do not have the resources of the private schools. So the Gonski funding does make a difference,” he said.

Jack agreed and was worried about our TAFE and university systems.

“It is worrying the cuts they are making to unis and TAFE because that is a crucial part of the whole system,” he said.

“I think that is something that a lot of people care about and are worried about. Our world ranking is declining and our competitiveness in that area is declining as well.”

The Federal Election will be held on Saturday, July 2, with pre-polling places already open.

Find your closest pre-poll place by visiting aec.gov.au.