Maybe introduce it as optional until you are 18? And then it goes compulsory.

This is the answer. It will give a (small) voice to the next generation who has to suffer under the piss-poor legislation that our government creates, so they can at least fight back. They’re the ones who are on the border for a lot of things (or even partaking of some ‘over-18’ activities, like tax) and they should get a say in it.

Imagine if every 16-17 year old voted down the clowns in parliament so they (for example) have at least some chance of buying a house one day? The older generation (boomers) has already lost the majority voting base, and the Lib/Lab duopoly is feeling the hurt because of it.