Federico Canas Velasco catches a bus to the University of Sydney campus in the hour before his lectures begin for the day. First is French, then global studies.
The 22-year-old is in his fourth year of uni, and his weeks are busy. Half his days are spent working a bar job, and the others between classes. He is an outgoing, positive guy – friends, and sports such swimming and football, occupy any spare time. He hopes to graduate and find work related to his degree in international studies in the next year or so.
He lives in Anthony Albanese’s inner west seat of Grayndler – a very safe Labor electorate.
What is your housing situation?
I lived half time between my mum and dad, both of them were renting. My mum just recently bought a property, because it ended up being that renting would cost the same as buying a small apartment, so I’m living with her.
I would like to move out of home eventually, but realistically I cannot right now. I’m lucky enough to have parents I can live with, because everything is so expensive. I would not be able to move out here in Sydney.
What are the major stressors for you right now?
Definitely the cost of living. I am paying towards things at home. Things like groceries are absolutely ridiculous. The price of eggs! Medicare, too. I recently just hurt my finger and it was so hard to find any GPs that were bulk-billing in my area. These domestic things affect me.
To go out now, to have a pub meal for two, is at least $100. I think that’s absolutely ridiculous, especially when you compare it to other countries where it is so much more affordable.
And public transport, why does it cost so much? It costs my dad, who recently just moved to the Shire, $10 each way to get to Central and back. That is ridiculous. Let’s say you are catching it to the office every day, five days a week. Dude, that’s $100 a week.
Are you better or worse off than you were three years ago?
There are certain things that were better off three years ago. We were just coming out of Covid [restrictions], and I was better financially simply because I wasn’t able to do anything but work. I was at a pharmacy, which was lucky because it was one of the few things that remained open.
Coming back to the real world now, you want to go out, you want to travel, you want to do normal things a young person does, and it is just too expensive. This year, I really have to watch what I do. I have to work more, minimise my expenses.
I really like the Hecs change – that was a good thing for most students. I think we get a 20% decrease now.
Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future?
Much more pessimistic. We have lots of issues. A big one is climate change. That is going to drastically affect things – our way of life, economically it will have a massive backlash.
Also, with housing, it does not seem like it is going to get any better at all. Especially in Sydney. I can’t see that in maybe 15 years, when I have children, that things will be any better. I don’t think I will be able to own a house. I think financially it is going to be very difficult.
And we are living so much longer, but growing up hasn’t changed. It is still that same cycle of finishing high school, either working or studying, by the time you hit your mid 20s you are expected to find some sort of job, and then you retire by the time you are like 65. That is still the expectation now. But I think that’s a problem for my generation, future generations, that will exacerbate when we are older. The world seemed more suited for my parents’ generation to get a job out of uni, buy a house – it worked. I feel like it’s not really reflected with us.
Where do you get your information about current events?
A lot of it comes from social media, whether it is an article from a newspaper shared on socials, or an Instagram account that puts out news. It is the way we get the majority of information, whether it is true or not. There are a lot of false things – conspiracy theories, racism – on social media too. It is like everything amplified.
I also try to avoid the Murdoch press. I am glad that I’m aware of bias. I like the Guardian!
Who will you vote for and why?
I can say I’m definitely not voting for the Liberals. I don’t think they represent young people, or the majority of Australians.
I will probably end up voting Labor because they seem like the viable alternative. I know the Greens put pressure on things, and the new Medicare deal they negotiated with Labor I think was a great thing.
Has your vote changed in recent years?
I used to be a lot more pro-Labor. I still lean more favourably towards Labor, but I think my perception of, or trust in, government has diminished. I feel like, what power do you truly have? Particularly seeing all the challenges we are facing now.
They say they are doing things, but I don’t really see it with my own eyes. I still go to the grocery shop and eggs are up by $2.50. The price of a kilo of tomatoes has gone up from $2.99 to $3.99 to $4.99.
Even on the international stage, Australia should stand up against the bullies like China, like the US. But it just seems they are less and less powerful.
It is just a decrease in faith in government, in their ability to do things.
